Enter any address in Rockbridge County, Virginia to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from thunderstorms is the most frequent flood event in Rockbridge County, VA, with 52 such events recorded in the last 30 years. Other flood types, including general floods and tropical storms, have also occurred. For example, heavy rain from thunderstorms caused flash flooding on August 21, 2022, and a stalled frontal boundary led to severe thunderstorms and flooding on June 15, 2025.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) data shows that properties in Zone A have experienced the highest number of claims, with 197 claims averaging $15,229 and an average water depth of 7.3 feet. Properties in Zone X_UNSHADED and Zone X_SHADED have also seen claims, with average payouts of $12,740 and $15,630 respectively, and average water depths of 4.0 and 5.4 feet. Homeowners in Zone A, as well as those in areas with lower flood insurance coverage or without a Base Flood Elevation (BFE), should pay particular attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
31 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Rockbridge County, Virginia has recorded 77 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 52 flash floods and 24 river or area floods. The county has received 23 federal disaster declarations, 5 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1969–2026)
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 |
| Severe Storms And Straight-line Winds | Severe Storm | Jun 29, 2012 |
| Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm | Snowstorm | Dec 18, 2009 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Jun 23, 2006 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Hurricane | Aug 29, 2005 |
| Hurricane Isabel | Hurricane | Sep 18, 2003 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | Jun 15, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 13, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 13, 2025 | 10.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 13, 2025 | 30.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 21, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 10, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 22, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Apr 13, 2020 | 25.00K |
| Flood | Dec 20, 2018 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Apr 16, 2018 | 0.00K |
Flood — Jun 15, 2025
A stalled frontal boundary located in southern Virginia interacted with a very unstable environment to produce severe thunderstorms in south-central Virginia. The thunderstorm winds from these storms caused tree and power line damage. Moisture was abundant across the area, with precipitable water values observed at between 1.7 and 1.9 inches. Storms were progressive however, and observed movi...
Flash Flood — Aug 21, 2022
A warm front, drifting northward from the Carolinas across the lower Mid-Atlantic, triggered scattered thunderstorms with heavy rain. Strong heating during the afternoon supported surface-based CAPE values rising into the 2,000 to 2,500 J/Kg range, while precipitable water values ranged from around 1.5 inches along the Blue Ridge to in excess of 1.8 inches across the central Piedmont of Virgin...
Flash Flood — Aug 10, 2022
The approach of a cold front, daytime heating, and increasing low level instability, led to the development of isolated showers and thunderstorms. One of these storms reached severe levels and produced damaging winds. Additionally, lightning strikes caused damage to homes and trees. A female occupant of one of these homes sustained injury and had to obtain medical help. Thunderstorms began tra...
Flash Flood — Aug 22, 2020
Storms during the afternoon and evening of the 22nd developed in a typical summertime environment of deep southerly windflow, carrying tropical moisture across the mid-Atlantic (with daily precipitable water values ranging from 1.30 to 1.60 inches), while abundant sunshine each afternoon provided the instability (CAPE values 1500-2500 J/Kg each day). The results were spotty thunderstorms that w...
Flash Flood — Apr 13, 2020
A strong cold front extending from a complex surface low pressure system, brought intense thunderstorms which produced damaging winds and very heavy rain on April 12-13. The heavy rains resulted from a deep plume of tropical moisture lifted northward ahead of the cold front. Heavy rain began during the evening of April 12th and exited the region shortly after sunrise on the 13th, lasting rough...
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 Rockbridge County, 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 Rockbridge County, 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.