9 flood insurance claims·$16,786 paid·7 federal flood & hurricane disasters
Share of the whole county outline, rivers and lakes included; parts FEMA hasn’t mapped count as zero.
Shaded areas are FEMA’s mapped flood hazard zones in and around Rappahannock County, Virginia. Zoomed out they are simplified; at street level the map switches to FEMA’s exact layer. Tap anywhere to check that spot, or search an address above.
Over the last 30 years, Rappahannock County has experienced a flood mix dominated by 43 general flood events and 30 flash flood events recorded in the NOAA Storm Events Database.
Recent history illustrates these conditions, notably in May 2025, when a slow-moving upper-level low brought anomalous moisture and rain rates exceeding two inches an hour. This long-duration event caused localized rainfall totals of four to eight inches across the Blue Ridge, with flooding lingering into the following morning.
NFIP claim records indicate that properties situated in Zone A should pay the most attention to flood risk, accounting for 7 claims with an average payout of $4,196 and an average recorded water depth of 4 inches. By comparison, Zone X and Zone X_UNSHADED recorded only 1 claim each, with an average payout of $0 and an average recorded water depth of 0 inches.
Summary written from NOAA storm reports and NFIP claims for this county. Not a prediction.
In flood insurance claims here that reported a flood depth, the average was 4 inches.
Drawn to scale against an 80-inch door. Even a few inches soaks flooring, the bottom of the drywall and anything plugged in near the floor.
Average of the depths reported on claims (zero and implausible values left out); FEMA’s record doesn’t say exactly where each depth was measured. Source: OpenFEMA NFIP claims.
The worst year was 2025, with 3 claims and $1,346 paid.
Bar height is scaled by square root so ordinary years stay visible next to the worst one. NFIP claims by year of loss. Source: OpenFEMA.
24 NOAA storm reports from Rappahannock County describe what happened, in the words of the forecasters who covered it. Read the Virginia flood stories →
25 federal disaster declarations since 1972, 7 of them floods, coastal storms or hurricanes.
| Disaster | Began |
|---|---|
| Severe Winter Storm | Jan 22, 2026 |
| Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm | Jan 2, 2022 |
| Tropical Storm Michael | Oct 9, 2018 |
| Hurricane Florence | Sep 13, 2018 |
| Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm | Jan 22, 2016 |
| Hurricane Sandy | Oct 26, 2012 |
| Severe Storms And Straight-line Winds | Jun 29, 2012 |
| Severe Winter Storms And Snowstorms | Feb 5, 2010 |
Weather and water disasters only; most recent first. Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations.
73 since 1996: 30 flash floods and 43 river or area floods.
| Event | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | May 14, 2025 | — |
| Flood | May 13, 2025 | — |
| Flash Flood | Jul 28, 2023 | — |
| Flood | Dec 22, 2022 | — |
| Flood | Oct 29, 2021 | — |
| Flood | Aug 31, 2020 | — |
| Flood | Oct 31, 2019 | — |
| Flood | Jul 11, 2019 | — |
— = no damage estimate in the record. Source: NOAA Storm Events Database.
Flood · May 14, 2025. A slow moving closed upper level low originating from the Gulf of America brought anomalous moisture into the area bringing localized heavy rain and a long duration moderate rain event.
Flood · May 13, 2025. A slow moving closed upper level low originating from the Gulf of America brought anomalous moisture into the area. A long duration period of rain ensued, with rain rates exceeding two inches an hour during the afternoon and evening of May 13th. The slow moving storms coupled with training led to localized rainfall totals of four to eight inches across the Blue Ridge, with lesser amounts of two to four inches alon…
Flash Flood · Jul 28, 2023. An isolated instance of flash flooding occurred due to heavy rain associated with thunderstorms.
Flood · Dec 22, 2022. A coastal low pressure system interacted with a warm front resulting in a widespread two to three inches of rain with localized amounts up to four inches. This resulted in numerous road closures due to high water and small streams overflowing their banks. Several river forecast points also reached minor flood stage.
National Weather Service narratives, lightly trimmed. Source: NOAA Storm Events Database.
Every colour on the map above is a place on this drawing: where the ground sits relative to the flood FEMA plans for.
If a building in Rappahannock County is in a high-risk zone (A or V) and its mortgage comes from a federally regulated or insured lender, or is federally backed, flood insurance is required.
Outside those zones it is optional, and often worth having: from 2014 to 2024 nearly one-third of NFIP claims came from outside the high-risk Special Flood Hazard Area. Since Risk Rating 2.0, NFIP premiums are set for each building, so the only reliable price is a quote: FloodSmart.gov or a local agent.