On FEMA’s figures, Blairs faces less hazard damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Blairs gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (78%). 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 Blairs 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 Blairs’ grade
River and rain flooding is 78% of the building damage FEMA expects in Blairs, and Blairs’ rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 79% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 9% (higher than 69% of U.S. census tracts).
A lower expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Blairs’ residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $167K a year in losses across Blairs: $131K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Blairs flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Blairs. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Blairs isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Pittsylvania County.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Blairs
Disasters that paid out in Blairs itself (aid to households or repair grants to Blairs), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2003Hurricane Isabel3 households applied for aid$2K aid approved
Pittsylvania County has had 23 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then hurricanes and tropical storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Blairs after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Blairs archive →Get ready for what Blairs 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 Blairs
Is Blairs at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Blairs has lower expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (78%) and hurricanes (9%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Blairs 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 Pittsylvania County, 2% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.0% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Blairs?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Blairs’ 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 Blairs?
By FEMA money that reached Blairs, Hurricane Isabel (2003): 3 households applied for aid, $2K approved.
Is Blairs at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (78%), and Blairs’ rate for it is lower than 79% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Blairs.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Blairs’ 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.