Photo: Ser Amantio di Nicolao at English Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0Colonial Beach’s building-damage rate from coastal flooding is in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Colonial Beach gets a B− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns, #226 of 253 in Virginia. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (43%), then river and rain flooding (42%). Flood insurance has paid 73 claims here since 1985.
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 Colonial Beach’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Colonial Beach faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
Hurricanes
River and rain flooding
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 Colonial Beach’s grade
Hurricanes are 43% of the building damage FEMA expects in Colonial Beach, and Colonial Beach’s rate of hurricanes damage is higher than 89% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 8%, at a rate in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts.
B− #226 of 253 in Virginia; higher expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Colonial Beach’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, Colonial Beach has more expected damage per building than 89% of Virginia towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.4M a year in losses across Colonial Beach: $1.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Colonial Beach flood? Sometimes: 73 flood claims since 1985
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Colonial Beach, from FEMA’s records: 29.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 88% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Isabel34 claims · $2.8M
- Tropical Storm Ernesto18 claims · $387K
- Hurricane Fran9 claims · $262K
Colonial Beach isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Westmoreland County.4 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Colonial Beach
Disasters that paid out in Colonial Beach itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Colonial Beach), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2011Hurricane Irene$23K to the Town of Colonial Beach for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
- 2006Tropical Depression Ernesto, Severe Storms and Flooding$90K to the Town of Colonial Beach for repairs18 flood claims paid for it, $387K
- 2003Hurricane Isabel219 households applied for aid$148K aid approved$448K to the Town of Colonial Beach for repairs34 flood claims paid for it, $2.8M
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$12K to the Town of Colonial Beach for repairs
Westmoreland County has had 20 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 Colonial Beach after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Colonial Beach archive →Get ready for what Colonial Beach faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 Colonial Beach
Is Colonial Beach at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Colonial Beach has higher expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #226 of 253 in Virginia. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (43%) and river and rain flooding (42%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Colonial Beach flood?
Flood insurance has paid 73 claims in Colonial Beach since 1985, $3.6M in all, or 29.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 88% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 16 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Isabel (34).
Is Colonial Beach 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 Westmoreland County, 37% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 2.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Colonial Beach?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Colonial Beach’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 Colonial Beach?
By FEMA money that reached Colonial Beach, Hurricane Isabel (2003): 219 households applied for aid, $148K approved, and $448K to the Town of Colonial Beach for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Isabel: 34 paid, $2.8M.
Is Colonial Beach at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (43%), and Colonial Beach’s rate for it is higher than 89% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Colonial Beach.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Colonial Beach’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.