Enter any address in Tazewell County, Virginia to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding is the dominant flood event type in Tazewell County, VA, with 85 recorded events in the last 30 years, compared to 41 general flood events. Recent examples include flooding on January 31, 2025, and February 15, 2025, both associated with deep low-pressure systems and significant moisture flow.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) data shows a range of claim payouts and water depths across different flood zones. Zone A experienced 209 claims with an average payout of $22,066 and an average water depth of 4.0 feet. Zone X, though less frequent in claims, had the highest average payout at $22,666, with an average water depth of 1.1 feet. Zone X_SHADED averaged $10,964 in payouts with 1.9 feet of water depth.
Homeowners in Zone A, Zone X_SHADED, and Zone X_UNSHADED should pay particular attention to flood risk. Those in Zone A may experience deeper water, while Zone X properties, despite lower average water depths, have seen significant claim payouts.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
57 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Tazewell County, Virginia has recorded 126 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 85 flash floods and 41 river or area floods. The county has received 25 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 (1976–2026)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Winter Storm | Winter Storm | Jan 22, 2026 |
| Severe Winter Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Feb 10, 2025 |
| Post-tropical Cyclone Helene | Tropical Storm | Sep 25, 2024 |
| Tropical Storm Helene | Tropical Storm | Sep 25, 2024 |
| Flooding And Mudslides | Severe Storm | Jul 13, 2022 |
| 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 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | Jan 31, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 16, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Feb 15, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Feb 15, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Feb 1, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 31, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 29, 2023 | 80.00K |
| Flood | May 29, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 29, 2023 | 20.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 29, 2023 | 150.00K |
Flood — Jan 31, 2025
A deep low pressure system moved from the Four-Corners region east across the Gulf Coast states. This resulted in deep moisture flow riding a southwesterly 50-knot low level jet from the Gulf through the central Appalachians and the upper Ohio River Valley beginning early on the morning of the 31st, with precipitable water values rapidly increasing into the 1.1 to 1.2 inch range by sunrise acro...
Flash Flood — Jul 16, 2025
A hot and humid air mass combined with orographical lift to produce a severe thunderstorm in Bath County of southwest Virginia. Damaging wind gusts from this storm blew down two trees west of Nimrod Hall.
Flash Flood — Feb 15, 2025
A deep upper level trough was observed exiting the southern Rockies during the morning of February 15th, with southwesterly windflow ahead of the trough allowing for a fetch of deep moisture from the western Gulf of America. This moisture pooled along a warm front situated across from Kentucky into southwest Virginia, where precipitable water values increased from 0.6 to 0.7 inches at 7 am that...
Flood — Feb 15, 2025
A deep upper level trough was observed exiting the southern Rockies during the morning of February 15th, with southwesterly windflow ahead of the trough allowing for a fetch of deep moisture from the western Gulf of America. This moisture pooled along a warm front situated across from Kentucky into southwest Virginia, where precipitable water values increased from 0.6 to 0.7 inches at 7 am that...
Flood — Feb 1, 2025
A deep low pressure system moved from the Four-Corners region east across the states bordering the Gulf of America. This resulted in deep moisture flow riding a southwesterly 50-knot low level jet from the Gulf through the central Appalachians and the upper Ohio River Valley beginning on January 31st, with precipitable water values rapidly increasing into the 1.1 to 1.2 inch range by sunrise ac...
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 Tazewell 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 Tazewell 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.