Photo: Famartin · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Broadway than in 75% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Broadway gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 75% of U.S. towns, #242 of 253 in Virginia. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (90%). Flood insurance has paid 9 claims here since 1996.
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 Broadway 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 Broadway’s grade
River and rain flooding is 90% of the building damage FEMA expects in Broadway, and Broadway’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 86% of U.S. census tracts.
C− #242 of 253 in Virginia; higher expected damage per building than 75% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Broadway’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, Broadway has more expected damage per building than 96% of Virginia towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.7M a year in losses across Broadway: $1.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Broadway flood? Rarely: 9 flood claims since 1996
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Broadway, from FEMA’s records: 4.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 58% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Fran6 claims · $87K
- Hurricane Isabel1 claim · $2K
Broadway isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Rockingham County.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Broadway
Disasters that paid out in Broadway itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Broadway), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2003Hurricane Isabel5 households applied for aid$10K aid approved1 flood claim paid for it, $2K
Rockingham County has had 17 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Also 1 FEMA wildfire suppression grant (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Rockingham County, 2011–2011.
Old photos of Broadway after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Broadway archive →Get ready for what Broadway 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 Broadway
Is Broadway at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Broadway has higher expected damage per building than 75% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #242 of 253 in Virginia. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (90%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Broadway flood?
Flood insurance has paid 9 claims in Broadway since 1996, $128K in all, or 4.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 58% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 2 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Fran (6).
Is Broadway 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 Rockingham County, 15% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.7% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Broadway?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Broadway’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 Broadway?
By FEMA money that reached Broadway, Hurricane Isabel (2003): 5 households applied for aid, $10K approved. By flood claims, Hurricane Fran: 6 paid, $87K.
Is Broadway at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (90%), and Broadway’s rate for it is higher than 86% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Broadway.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Broadway’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.