Photo: Bill Fitzpatrick · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Chesterfield as in the typical U.S. town, led by river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Chesterfield gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (49%), then hurricanes (31%). FEMA’s files show no paid flood insurance claims here.
Graded on FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value (NRI v1.20, December 2025), weighted by where residents live; flood claims are shown, not graded. How hazard risk is graded
What Chesterfield 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
Hurricanes
Tornadoes
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.
What’s behind Chesterfield’s grade
River and rain flooding is 49% of the building damage FEMA expects in Chesterfield, and Chesterfield’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 64% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 31% (higher than 88% of U.S. census tracts).
C+ higher expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Chesterfield’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $696K a year in losses across Chesterfield: $506K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Chesterfield flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Chesterfield. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Chesterfield isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Chesterfield County.9 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Chesterfield
Disasters that paid out in Chesterfield itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Chesterfield), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2023Flooding$13K to the Town of Chesterfield for repairs
- 2019Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$13K to the Town of Chesterfield for repairs
- 2018Hurricane Florence196 households applied for aid$145K aid approved$1.1M to the Town of Chesterfield for repairs
- 2016Hurricane Matthew31 households applied for aid$7K aid approved$38K to the Town of Chesterfield for repairs
- 2011Flooding$9K to the Town of Chesterfield for repairs
- 2010Flooding$5K to the Town of Chesterfield for repairs
Show all 9
- 2004Tropical Storm Frances17 households applied for aid$44K aid approved
- 2001Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Ice Jams$5K to the Town of Chesterfield for repairs
- 2000Severe Winter Storm$33K to the Town of Chesterfield for repairs
Chesterfield County has had 17 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often hurricanes and tropical storms, then severe storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Chesterfield after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Chesterfield archive →Get ready for what Chesterfield 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.
- The season runs June through November and peaks from mid-August to mid-October.
- Bring in porch furniture and anything the wind can throw.
- Fill the gas tank and charge phones before the storm arrives.
- Pick your spot now: the lowest floor, an inside room, no windows.
- A watch means be ready; a warning means take cover now.
- Keep shoes and a flashlight by the bed.
- 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 Chesterfield
Is Chesterfield at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Chesterfield has higher expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (49%) and hurricanes (31%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Chesterfield 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 Chesterfield County, 6% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.1% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Chesterfield?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Chesterfield’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 Chesterfield?
By FEMA money that reached Chesterfield, Hurricane Florence (2018): 196 households applied for aid, $145K approved, and $1.1M to the Town of Chesterfield for repairs.
Is Chesterfield at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (49%), and Chesterfield’s rate for it is lower than 64% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Chesterfield.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Chesterfield’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.