Enter any address in Sussex County, Virginia to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from slow-moving thunderstorms is the most frequent flood event in Sussex County, VA, with 37 recorded instances in the last 30 years. Other events include general floods, tropical storms, and one hurricane. For example, a moist and unstable air mass led to widespread flash flooding across the region on July 15, 2025, with rainfall totals of 2-4 inches observed.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data shows that properties in Zone A have experienced the most claims, with an average payout of $4,021 and an average water depth of 4.7 feet. Properties in Zone X have also filed claims, averaging $4,081 with a water depth of 0.5 feet, and one claim in Zone X_Unshaded averaged $8,693 with no reported water depth.
Homeowners in Zone A, particularly those near waterways or in low-lying areas, should pay close attention to flood risk. Residents in Zone X and X_Unshaded, while experiencing less frequent or severe flooding, should also be aware of potential risks and consider flood insurance.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
22 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Sussex County, Virginia has recorded 44 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 37 flash floods and 4 river or area floods. The county has received 18 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 |
| Tropical Depression Ernesto, Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Aug 29, 2006 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Hurricane | Aug 29, 2005 |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Sep 27, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Mar 17, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 15, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 14, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 14, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 8, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 18, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 12, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 18, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Nov 12, 2020 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — Sep 27, 2025
A moist and unstable airmass was in place on September 27. Meanwhile, a surface low lingered across south central Virginia along the North Carolina border with a stationary front extending east along the state border. This low slowly moved east-northeast through the afternoon on September 27. This allowed for rounds of heavy showers and storms to move across central and southeast Virginia begin...
Flash Flood — Mar 17, 2025
Scattered showers and thunderstorms developed ahead of a slow-moving cold front on March 16 across southeast Virginia. These showers and storms trained over the same areas into early on March 17, allowing for heavy rain and instances of flash flooding across portions of southeast Virginia on March 16 and 17.
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 — Aug 14, 2025
A late-summer hot and humid airmass was in place across most of Virginia on August 14. Additionally, a slow-moving cold front stalled over central and southeast Virginia in the afternoon, supporting thunderstorms with heavy rain and flash flooding in southeast Virginia during the evening hours.
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 Sussex 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 Sussex 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.