Photo: The original uploader was Ser Amantio di Nicolao at English Wikipedia. · CC BY 3.0Less hazard damage per building is expected in Franconia than in 96% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Franconia gets an A+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns, #30 of 253 in Virginia. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (80%), then hurricanes (11%). Flood insurance has paid 2 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 Franconia 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 Franconia’s grade
River and rain flooding is 80% of the building damage FEMA expects in Franconia, and Franconia’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 80% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 11% (higher than 71% of U.S. census tracts).
A+ #30 of 253 in Virginia; lower expected damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Franconia’s residents live in 7 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, Franconia has less expected damage per building than 88% of Virginia towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.6M a year in losses across Franconia: $2.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Franconia flood? Rarely: 2 flood claims since 2011
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Franconia, from FEMA’s records: 0.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 96% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Franconia isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Fairfax County.The storms Franconia remembers
None of the 16 disasters declared for Fairfax County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Franconia 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 Fairfax County
- 20151 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Fairfax 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 Franconia after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Franconia archive →Franconia and its neighbors
Franconia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kingstowne | A+less damage than 98% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Franconia | A+less damage than 96% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Springfield | A+less damage than 95% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Lincolnia | Aless damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | 17 |
| Rose Hill | Aless damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 17 |
| Newington | A−less damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 13 |
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 Franconia 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 Franconia
Is Franconia at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Franconia has lower expected damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns: A+ for hazard risk, #30 of 253 in Virginia. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (80%) and hurricanes (11%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Franconia flood?
Flood insurance has paid 2 claims in Franconia since 2011, $16K in all, or 0.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 96% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Franconia 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 Fairfax County, 22% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.1% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Franconia?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Franconia’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Franconia at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (80%), and Franconia’s rate for it is lower than 80% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Franconia.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Franconia’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.