Photo: Brian Stansberry · CC BY 4.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Bluefield as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Bluefield gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns, #203 of 253 in Virginia. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (92%). Flood insurance has paid 108 claims here since 1978.
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 stands out about Bluefield’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Bluefield 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 Bluefield’s grade
River and rain flooding is 92% of the building damage FEMA expects in Bluefield, and Bluefield’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 69% of U.S. census tracts.
B #203 of 253 in Virginia; lower expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Bluefield’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical Virginia town has lower expected damage than 81% of U.S. towns; within the state, Bluefield has more expected damage per building than 80% of Virginia towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.6M a year in losses across Bluefield: $1.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Bluefield flood? Yes: 108 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Bluefield, from FEMA’s records: 49.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 92% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Helene10 claims · $240K
Bluefield isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Tazewell County.8 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Bluefield
Disasters that paid out in Bluefield itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Bluefield), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Tropical Storm Helene479 households applied for aid$865K aid approved$472K to the Town of Bluefield for repairs10 flood claims paid for it, $240K
- 2009Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$35K to the Town of Bluefield for repairs
- 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding40 households applied for aid$38K aid approved9 flood claims paid that year
- 2003Severe Storms and Flooding87 households applied for aid$161K aid approved
- 2003Severe Winter Storm, Record/near Record Snowfall, Heavy Rain,floodind, and Mudslide6 households applied for aid$4K aid approved
- 2002Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding$3K to the Town of Bluefield for repairs4 flood claims paid that year
Show all 8
- 2001Severe Storms and Flooding$29K to the Town of Bluefield for repairs21 flood claims paid that year
- 2000Severe Winter Storms$5K to the Town of Bluefield for repairs
Tazewell County has had 22 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 Bluefield after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Bluefield archive →Bluefield and its neighbors
Bluefield 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bluefield | A−less damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | 19 |
| Bluefield | Bless damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | 108 |
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 Bluefield 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 Bluefield
Is Bluefield at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Bluefield has lower expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #203 of 253 in Virginia. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (92%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Bluefield flood?
Flood insurance has paid 108 claims in Bluefield since 1978, $1.2M in all, or 49.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 92% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 16 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Helene (10).
Is Bluefield 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 Tazewell County, 32% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.7% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Bluefield?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Bluefield’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 Bluefield?
By FEMA money that reached Bluefield, Tropical Storm Helene (2024): 479 households applied for aid, $865K approved, and $472K to the Town of Bluefield for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Helene: 10 paid, $240K.
Is Bluefield at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (92%), and Bluefield’s rate for it is higher than 69% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Bluefield.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Bluefield’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.