St. Paul's Church · Photo: Pubdog · Public domainFEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Dahlgren as in the typical U.S. town, led by river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Dahlgren gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns, #205 of 253 in Virginia. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (50%), then hurricanes (38%). 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 Dahlgren 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 Dahlgren’s grade
River and rain flooding is 50% of the building damage FEMA expects in Dahlgren, and Dahlgren’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 73% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 3%, at a rate in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
B #205 of 253 in Virginia; lower expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Dahlgren’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
The typical Virginia town has lower expected damage than 81% of U.S. towns; within the state, Dahlgren has more expected damage per building than 81% of Virginia towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $950K a year in losses across Dahlgren: $814K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Dahlgren flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Dahlgren. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Dahlgren isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: King George County.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Dahlgren
Disasters that paid out in Dahlgren itself (aid to households or repair grants to Dahlgren), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2003Hurricane Isabel7 households applied for aid$5K aid approved
King George County has had 23 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often winter storms, then severe storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Dahlgren after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Dahlgren archive →Dahlgren and its neighbors
Dahlgren has the lowest expected damage per building of the 1 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dahlgren | Bless damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | 0 |
| Dahlgren Center | — | 765 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
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 Dahlgren 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 Dahlgren
Is Dahlgren at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Dahlgren has lower expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #205 of 253 in Virginia. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (50%) and hurricanes (38%). The figures are for the one census tract the town shares with its neighbors. This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Dahlgren 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 King George County, 23% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Dahlgren?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Dahlgren’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 Dahlgren?
By FEMA money that reached Dahlgren, Hurricane Isabel (2003): 7 households applied for aid, $5K approved.
Is Dahlgren at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (50%), and Dahlgren’s rate for it is lower than 73% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Dahlgren.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Dahlgren’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.