More hazard damage per building is expected in Colonial Heights than in 68% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Colonial Heights gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns, #123 of 177 in Tennessee. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (94%). Flood insurance has paid 22 claims here since 1981.
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 Colonial Heights 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.
What’s behind Colonial Heights’ grade
River and rain flooding is 94% of the building damage FEMA expects in Colonial Heights, and Colonial Heights’ rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 84% of U.S. census tracts.
C #123 of 177 in Tennessee; higher expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Colonial Heights’ residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical Tennessee town has higher expected damage than 53% of U.S. towns; within the state, Colonial Heights has more expected damage per building than 69% of Tennessee towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $801K a year in losses across Colonial Heights: $717K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Colonial Heights flood? Sometimes: 22 flood claims since 1981
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Colonial Heights, from FEMA’s records: 14.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 79% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Colonial Heights isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Sullivan County.The storms Colonial Heights remembers
None of the 8 disasters declared for Sullivan County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Colonial Heights itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 19816 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 19844 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 19942 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Sullivan County has had 8 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then winter storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Colonial Heights after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Colonial Heights archive →Colonial Heights and its neighbors
Colonial Heights is 2nd of the 2 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kingsport | A−less damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 45 |
| Colonial Heights | Cmore damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 22 |
Hazard risk = FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade; the map is shaded by fifths of the same scale. Flood claims = paid federal flood insurance claims on record.
Get ready for what Colonial Heights 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 Colonial Heights
Is Colonial Heights at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Colonial Heights has higher expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #123 of 177 in Tennessee. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (94%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Colonial Heights flood?
Flood insurance has paid 22 claims in Colonial Heights since 1981, $103K in all, or 14.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 79% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Colonial Heights 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 Sullivan County, 19% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Colonial Heights?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Colonial Heights’ flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Colonial Heights at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (94%), and Colonial Heights’ rate for it is higher than 84% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Colonial Heights.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Colonial Heights’ 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.