Photo: The original uploader was Ser Amantio di Nicolao at English Wikipedia. · CC BY 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Huntington faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Huntington gets a B− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns, #221 of 253 in Virginia. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (87%). Flood insurance has paid 194 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 stands out about Huntington’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Huntington 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 Huntington’s grade
River and rain flooding is 87% of the building damage FEMA expects in Huntington, and Huntington’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 72% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 1%, at a rate in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
B− #221 of 253 in Virginia; higher expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Huntington’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, Huntington has more expected damage per building than 87% of Virginia towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.9M a year in losses across Huntington: $1.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Huntington flood? Yes: 194 flood claims since 2003
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Huntington, from FEMA’s records: 24.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 86% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Isabel3 claims · $15K
- Hurricane Irene2 claims · $24K
- The Mid-spring storms2 claims · $14K
Huntington 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 Huntington remembers
None of the 16 disasters declared for Fairfax County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Huntington itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 2011116 flood claims paidThe year of The Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee, declared for Fairfax County
- 200664 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding, declared for Fairfax County
- 20034 flood claims paidThe year of Hurricane Isabel, declared for Fairfax County
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 Huntington after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Huntington archive →Huntington and its neighbors
Huntington is 5th of the 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rose Hill | Aless damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 17 |
| Groveton | B+less damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 13 |
| Alexandria | Bless damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 298 |
| Belle Haven | B−more damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 108 |
| Huntington | B−more damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 194 |
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 Huntington 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 Huntington
Is Huntington at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Huntington has higher expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #221 of 253 in Virginia. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (87%) and hurricanes (6%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Huntington flood?
Flood insurance has paid 194 claims in Huntington since 2003, $3.4M in all, or 24.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 86% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Hurricane Isabel (3).
Is Huntington 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 Huntington?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Huntington’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 Huntington?
By flood claims, Hurricane Isabel: 3 paid, $15K.
Is Huntington at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (87%), and Huntington’s rate for it is higher than 72% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Huntington.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Huntington’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.