Enter any address in Wise County, Virginia to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from heavy rainfall events is the dominant flood character in Wise County. Recent events include flash flooding reported in the Wise area on August 2nd, 2025, following showers and thunderstorms. Similar conditions occurred on February 15th, 2025, with heavy rainfall associated with a strong synoptic system leading to reports of flooding.
Over the past 30 years, NOAA Storm Events data indicates 32 flash flood events and 14 flood events have been recorded in the county. National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data shows that properties in Zone X, which had an average water depth of 7.1 feet, experienced the highest average payouts. Properties in Zone X_UNSHADED and Zone X_SHADED also saw significant average payouts and water depths. Homeowners in these zones, as well as those in Zone A, should pay particular attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
8 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Wise County, Virginia has recorded 46 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 32 flash floods and 14 river or area floods. The county has received 19 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 (1977–2026)
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 |
| 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 Winter Storm And Snowstorm | Snowstorm | Dec 18, 2009 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Hurricane | Aug 29, 2005 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Feb 15, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 2, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 27, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jul 18, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Feb 17, 2023 | 10.00K |
| Flood | Feb 17, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 28, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Mar 28, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Mar 1, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Feb 6, 2020 | 196.00K |
Flash Flood — Feb 15, 2025
A strong synoptic system with heavy rainfall during warm front passage followed by additional rainfall during the severe thunderstorms along the cold front led to reports of flooding in northern portions of East Tennessee. Additionally, strong winds powered by strong winds aloft mixed to the surface, bringing wind advisory conditions to the whole area, a few high wind reports, and some wind dam...
Flash Flood — Aug 2, 2025
Showers and thunderstorms affected southwest Virginia and northeast Tennessee during the afternoon and evening hours of August 2nd. These produced some isolated flash flooding in southwest Virginia in the Wise area.
Flash Flood — Sep 27, 2024
Tropical Storm Helene caps off a several day heavy rainfall event in association with a stalled closed upper low with additional rain yielding catastrophic flash and river flooding, and significant wind damage as wet soils and strong wind gusts led to forest damage.
Flood — Jul 18, 2024
A humid airmass and a stationary front draped over the area contributed to localized flash flooding near Pound.
Flood — Feb 17, 2023
Heavy rain was triggered by a cold front slowly displacing a warm sector whose precipitable water anomaly was near the maximum for the day.
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 Wise 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 Wise 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.