Parker, Col. Josiah, Family Cemetery · Photo: Ser Amantio di Nicolao · CC BY-SA 4.0For coastal flooding, Carrollton’s building-damage rate is in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Carrollton gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 63% of U.S. towns, #189 of 253 in Virginia. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (48%), then hurricanes (26%). 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 stands out about Carrollton’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Carrollton 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
Coastal 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 Carrollton’s grade
River and rain flooding is 48% of the building damage FEMA expects in Carrollton, and Carrollton’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 79% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 17%, at a rate in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts.
B #189 of 253 in Virginia; lower expected damage per building than 63% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Carrollton’s residents live in 3 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, Carrollton has more expected damage per building than 75% of Virginia towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.1M a year in losses across Carrollton: $1.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Carrollton flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Carrollton. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Carrollton isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Isle of Wight County.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Carrollton
Disasters that paid out in Carrollton itself (aid to households or repair grants to Carrollton), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2003Hurricane Isabel352 households applied for aid$155K aid approved
Isle of Wight County has had 15 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often hurricanes and tropical storms, then winter storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Carrollton after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Carrollton archive →Get ready for what Carrollton 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.
- Know your evacuation zone and the way off the coast.
- Storm surge comes fast: leave when you’re told, not when the water arrives.
- Move cars to high ground before king tides and nor’easters.
- 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 Carrollton
Is Carrollton at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Carrollton has lower expected damage per building than 63% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #189 of 253 in Virginia. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (48%) and hurricanes (26%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Carrollton 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 Isle of Wight County, 14% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Carrollton?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Carrollton’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 Carrollton?
By FEMA money that reached Carrollton, Hurricane Isabel (2003): 352 households applied for aid, $155K approved.
Is Carrollton at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (48%), and Carrollton’s rate for it is lower than 79% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Carrollton.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Carrollton’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.