Enter any address in Petersburg city, Virginia to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from slow-moving thunderstorms dominates the flood events in Petersburg City County, VA. Over the past 30 years, NOAA Storm Events data shows 37 flash flood events, alongside 3 general flood events, 2 coastal floods, and 2 tropical storm/hurricane events. For example, on July 15, 2025, widespread flash flooding occurred due to heavy rainfall from slow-moving storms.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data indicates that properties in Zone A have experienced the most claims, with 70 claims averaging $22,609 and an average water depth of 4.1 feet. Properties in Zone X also show a significant number of claims, with 22 claims averaging $2,113 and an average water depth of 13.0 feet. Homeowners in Zone A, as well as those in Zone X and X_UNSHADED, should pay particular attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
16 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Petersburg city, Virginia has recorded 44 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 37 flash floods and 3 river or area floods. The county has received 17 federal disaster declarations, 1 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1972–2026)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Winter Storm | Winter Storm | Jan 22, 2026 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Hurricane Florence | Hurricane | Sep 13, 2018 |
| Hurricane Sandy | Hurricane | Oct 26, 2012 |
| Hurricane Irene | Hurricane | Aug 26, 2011 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Hurricane | Aug 29, 2005 |
| Severe Storms, Flooding And Tornadoes Associated W Td Gaston | Severe Storm | Aug 30, 2004 |
| Hurricane Isabel | Hurricane | Sep 18, 2003 |
| Severe Winter Storms | Severe Storm | Jan 25, 2000 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Coastal Flood | Oct 28, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 15, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 15, 2025 | 165.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 15, 2025 | 4.76M |
| Flash Flood | Jul 15, 2025 | 60.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 15, 2025 | 30.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 14, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 14, 2025 | 15.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 14, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 14, 2025 | 30.00K |
Coastal Flood — Oct 28, 2025
Low pressure off the Mid-Atlantic coast combined with high pressure in Canada, resulting in a lengthy period of northeasterly onshore flow. Increasing tidal anomalies resulted in moderate to locally major tidal flooding over an extended period.
Flash Flood — Jul 15, 2025
A moist and unstable air mass was in place from July 14 through July 15. This allowed for widespread, slow-moving storms to move across portions of central, southern, and southeastern Virginia. These storms produced heavy rain and widespread flash flooding in two rounds. One round was from overnight convection on the night of July 14 into the morning of July 15 and the other round was during th...
Flash Flood — May 14, 2025
A broad trough was in place across the eastern CONUS, resulting in isolated afternoon and evening storms with locally heavy rainfall.
Flash Flood — Jul 14, 2025
A weak frontal boundary sagged south toward the area during the afternoon/evening. Scattered to numerous thunderstorms initially developed to the north (near that boundary) and also to the west along higher terrain. The environment ahead of the boundary was characterized by very weak deep-layer flow and anomalously high PW values on the order of 2.1-2.2, leading to slow-moving storms with very ...
Flash Flood — Jul 13, 2025
A moist and unstable air mass resulted in scattered storms developing across portions of central and eastern Virginia on July 13. These slow-moving storms produced heavy rainfall and flash flooding, especially across the Tri-Cities.
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Individual Claims (2.25M records analyzed).
FEMA assigns flood zone designations to areas in Petersburg city, Virginia:
AE High Risk — 1% annual chance of flooding. Insurance required.
VE Very High Risk — Coastal flooding with wave action.
X (Shaded) Moderate Risk — 500-year floodplain.
X Low Risk — Outside major floodplains.
Properties in Petersburg city, Virginia that are in FEMA-designated Special Flood Hazard Areas (zones A and V) with federally backed mortgages are required to carry flood insurance.
Even outside high-risk zones, flood insurance is recommended. From 2014 to 2024, nearly one-third of NFIP claims came from outside the high-risk Special Flood Hazard Area.
Visit FloodSmart.gov to find an agent and get a quote.