Photo: Mojo Hand · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Glen Allen faces less hazard damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Glen Allen gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns, #95 of 253 in Virginia. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (70%), then earthquakes (18%). Flood insurance has paid 5 claims here since 2004.
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 Glen Allen 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
Earthquakes
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 Glen Allen’s grade
River and rain flooding is 70% of the building damage FEMA expects in Glen Allen, and Glen Allen’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 74% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 18% (higher than 77% of U.S. census tracts).
A #95 of 253 in Virginia; lower expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Glen Allen’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, Glen Allen has less expected damage per building than 63% of Virginia towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.8M a year in losses across Glen Allen: $2.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Glen Allen flood? Rarely: 5 flood claims since 2004
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Glen Allen, from FEMA’s records: 0.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 84% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Glen Allen isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Henrico County.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Glen Allen
Disasters that paid out in Glen Allen itself (aid to households or repair grants to Glen Allen), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2004Severe Storms, Flooding and Tornadoes Associated W Td Gaston123 households applied for aid$462K aid approved3 flood claims paid that year
- 2003Hurricane Isabel456 households applied for aid$278K aid approved
Henrico County has had 18 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 Glen Allen after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Glen Allen archive →Glen Allen and its neighbors
Glen Allen 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chamberlayne | Aless damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Laurel | Aless damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
| Glen Allen | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
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 Glen Allen 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.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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 Glen Allen
Is Glen Allen at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Glen Allen has lower expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #95 of 253 in Virginia. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (70%) and earthquakes (18%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Glen Allen flood?
Flood insurance has paid 5 claims in Glen Allen since 2004, $57K in all, or 0.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 84% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Glen Allen 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 Henrico County, 95% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.1% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Glen Allen?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Glen Allen’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 Glen Allen?
By FEMA money that reached Glen Allen, Severe Storms, Flooding and Tornadoes Associated W Td Gaston (2004): 123 households applied for aid, $462K approved.
Is Glen Allen at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (70%), and Glen Allen’s rate for it is lower than 74% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Glen Allen.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Glen Allen’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.