Photo: The original uploader was Ser Amantio di Nicolao at English Wikipedia. · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Groveton faces less hazard damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Groveton gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns, #183 of 253 in Virginia. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%). Flood insurance has paid 13 claims here since 2003.
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 Groveton 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 Groveton’s grade
River and rain flooding is 85% of the building damage FEMA expects in Groveton, and Groveton’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 56% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 8% (higher than 72% of U.S. census tracts).
B+ #183 of 253 in Virginia; lower expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Groveton’s residents live in 3 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, Groveton has more expected damage per building than 72% of Virginia towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.1M a year in losses across Groveton: $1.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Groveton flood? Sometimes: 13 flood claims since 2003
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Groveton, from FEMA’s records: 2.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 59% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene1 claim · $10K
- The Mid-spring storms1 claim · $3K
Groveton 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 Groveton remembers
None of the 16 disasters declared for Fairfax County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Groveton itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20115 flood claims paidThe year of The Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee, declared for Fairfax County
- 20132 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 20152 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 Groveton after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Groveton archive →Groveton and its neighbors
Groveton is 4th of the 9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Belvoir | A+among the lowest damage | river and rain flooding | — |
| Rose Hill | Aless damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 17 |
| Hayfield | A−less damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Groveton | B+less damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 13 |
| Woodlawn | Bless damage than 59% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Belle Haven | B−more damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 108 |
| Huntington | B−more damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 194 |
| Hybla Valley | B−more damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Fort Hunt | C+more damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 36 |
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 Groveton 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 Groveton
Is Groveton at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Groveton has lower expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #183 of 253 in Virginia. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%) and hurricanes (8%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Groveton flood?
Flood insurance has paid 13 claims in Groveton since 2003, $54K in all, or 2.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 59% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (1).
Is Groveton 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 Groveton?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Groveton’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 Groveton?
By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 1 paid, $10K.
Is Groveton at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (85%), and Groveton’s rate for it is higher than 56% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Groveton.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Groveton’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.