Photo: Mojo Hand · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA puts Colonial Heights’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 60% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Colonial Heights gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns, #193 of 253 in Virginia. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%). Flood insurance has paid 63 claims here since 1979.
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 Heights’ natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Colonial Heights 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 Colonial Heights’ grade
River and rain flooding is 82% of the building damage FEMA expects in Colonial Heights, and Colonial Heights’ rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 60% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 1%, at a rate in the top 7% of U.S. census tracts.
B #193 of 253 in Virginia; lower expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Colonial Heights’ 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, Colonial Heights has more expected damage per building than 76% of Virginia towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.3M a year in losses across Colonial Heights: $3.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Colonial Heights flood? Sometimes: 63 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Colonial Heights, from FEMA’s records: 7.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 69% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Floyd15 claims · $696K
- Hurricane Isabel10 claims · $183K
- The November 2009 nor’easter1 claim · $2K
Colonial Heights isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: the county.5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Colonial Heights
Disasters that paid out in Colonial Heights itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Colonial Heights), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2011Hurricane Irene$481K to the City of Colonial Heights for repairs
- 2004Severe Storms, Flooding and Tornadoes Associated W Td Gaston25 households applied for aid$42K aid approved$129K to the City of Colonial Heights for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
- 2003Hurricane Isabel460 households applied for aid$128K aid approved$710K to the City of Colonial Heights for repairs10 flood claims paid for it, $183K
- 2000Severe Winter Storms$42K to the City of Colonial Heights for repairs
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$105K to the City of Colonial Heights for repairs15 flood claims paid for it, $696K
has had 12 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 Heights after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Colonial Heights archive →Colonial Heights and its neighbors
Colonial Heights is 3rd of the 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petersburg | Aless damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | 84 |
| Ettrick | Aless damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Colonial Heights | Bless damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 63 |
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 Colonial Heights 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 Colonial Heights
Is Colonial Heights at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Colonial Heights has lower expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #193 of 253 in Virginia. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%) and hurricanes (6%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Colonial Heights flood?
Flood insurance has paid 63 claims in Colonial Heights since 1979, $1.2M in all, or 7.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 69% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 12 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Floyd (15).
Is Colonial Heights 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 the county, 0.7% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Colonial Heights?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Colonial Heights’ 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 Heights?
By FEMA money that reached Colonial Heights, Hurricane Isabel (2003): 460 households applied for aid, $128K approved, and $710K to the City of Colonial Heights for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Floyd: 15 paid, $696K.
Is Colonial Heights at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (82%), and Colonial Heights’ rate for it is higher than 60% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Colonial Heights.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Colonial Heights’ 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.