Storms, floods and disasters in Alexandria
Alexandria isn’t graded for hazard risk: Alexandria has 430 residents; we grade towns of 1,000 or more. Flood insurance has paid 81 claims here since 1979.
What Alexandria faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
River and rain flooding
Shares are of FEMA’s expected building damage, the measure the grade uses; ranks compare each hazard’s building-damage rate with all 85,154 U.S. census tracts. In FEMA’s terms, river and rain flooding is FEMA’s “Inland Flooding” (rivers and streams overflowing their banks, or rain overwhelming drainage). FEMA defines coastal flooding as high or rising tides and storm surge, so surge damage is counted there. Drought isn’t listed: FEMA counts its losses in crops only.
Does Alexandria flood? Sometimes: 81 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Alexandria, from FEMA’s records.
- Tropical Storm Ivan21 claims · $626K
- Hurricane Ida4 claims · $47K
Alexandria isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Huntingdon County.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Alexandria
Disasters that paid out in Alexandria itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Alexandria), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan137 households applied for aid$314K aid approved21 flood claims paid for it, $626K
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding Associated with Tropical Depression Frances7 households applied for aid$32K aid approved
Huntingdon County has had 13 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often floods, then hurricanes and tropical storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Alexandria after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Alexandria archive →Get ready for what Alexandria faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- Turn around at flooded roads: a foot of moving water can carry off a car.
- Flood insurance usually takes 30 days to start, so buy it before the forecast.
- Keep papers and medicines up high, in a grab-and-go bag.
- Look up the address on FEMA’s flood map.
- Ask the seller or landlord whether it has ever flooded, and what flood insurance costs there.
- Get a flood insurance quote early: policies usually start 30 days after you buy.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Alexandria
Does Alexandria flood?
Flood insurance has paid 81 claims in Alexandria since 1979, $1.2M in all. 15 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Ivan (21).
Is Alexandria in a flood zone?
Flood zones are drawn street by street, so the answer depends on the address: look it up on FEMA’s flood map. In Huntingdon County, 17% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Alexandria?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Alexandria’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Alexandria?
By FEMA money that reached Alexandria, Tropical Depression Ivan (2004): 137 households applied for aid, $314K approved. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Ivan: 21 paid, $626K.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Alexandria.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Alexandria’s residents lived in the 2020 census; OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. Preparedness tips: Ready.gov. FEMA’s model is an average of expected damage, not a forecast. How hazard risk is graded.