U. S. Geological Survey National Center · Photo: No machine-readable author provided. Joshuadavisphotography assumed (based on copyright claims). · CC BY-SA 2.5Less hazard damage per building is expected in Cherry Hill than in 89% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Cherry Hill gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns, #77 of 253 in Virginia. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (76%). Flood insurance has paid 3 claims here since 2011.
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 Cherry Hill 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
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 Cherry Hill’s grade
River and rain flooding is 76% of the building damage FEMA expects in Cherry Hill, and Cherry Hill’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 72% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 9% (higher than 70% of U.S. census tracts).
A #77 of 253 in Virginia; lower expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Cherry Hill’s residents live in 5 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, Cherry Hill has less expected damage per building than 70% of Virginia towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.0M a year in losses across Cherry Hill: $1.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Cherry Hill flood? Rarely: 3 flood claims since 2011
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Cherry Hill, from FEMA’s records: 0.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 93% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Cherry Hill isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Prince William County.The storms Cherry Hill remembers
None of the 16 disasters declared for Prince William County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Cherry Hill itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20111 flood claims paidThe year of The Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee, declared for Prince William County
- 20141 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 20201 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Prince William County has had 16 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often winter storms, then hurricanes and tropical storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Cherry Hill after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Cherry Hill archive →Cherry Hill and its neighbors
Cherry Hill is 2nd of the 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quantico Base | A+among the lowest damage | river and rain flooding | — |
| Cherry Hill | Aless damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Dumfries | Aless damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Leesylvania | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Triangle | A−less damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Montclair | B+less damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 11 |
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 Cherry Hill 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.
- 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 Cherry Hill
Is Cherry Hill at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Cherry Hill has lower expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #77 of 253 in Virginia. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (76%) and hurricanes (9%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Cherry Hill flood?
Flood insurance has paid 3 claims in Cherry Hill since 2011, $25K in all, or 0.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 93% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Cherry Hill 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 Prince William County, 46% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Cherry Hill?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Cherry Hill’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Cherry Hill at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (76%), and Cherry Hill’s rate for it is lower than 72% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Cherry Hill.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Cherry Hill’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.