Oakley · Photo: Wikipelli · CC BY-SA 3.0Less hazard damage per building is expected in Lake Wilderness than in 96% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Lake Wilderness gets an A+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns, #29 of 253 in Virginia. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (72%). 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 Lake Wilderness 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
Hurricanes
Tornadoes
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 Lake Wilderness’ grade
River and rain flooding is 72% of the building damage FEMA expects in Lake Wilderness, and Lake Wilderness’ rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 86% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 8% (higher than 61% of U.S. census tracts).
A+ #29 of 253 in Virginia; lower expected damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Lake Wilderness’ 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, Lake Wilderness has less expected damage per building than 89% of Virginia towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $267K a year in losses across Lake Wilderness: $162K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Lake Wilderness flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Lake Wilderness. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Lake Wilderness isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Spotsylvania County.The storms Lake Wilderness remembers
None of the 16 disasters declared for Spotsylvania County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Lake Wilderness itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
Spotsylvania County has had 16 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.
Get ready for what Lake Wilderness 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.
- 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.
- Pick your spot now: the lowest floor, an inside room, no windows.
- A watch means be ready; a warning means take cover now.
- Keep shoes and a flashlight by the bed.
- 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 Lake Wilderness
Is Lake Wilderness at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Lake Wilderness has lower expected damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns: A+ for hazard risk, #29 of 253 in Virginia. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (72%) and earthquakes (8%). 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 Lake Wilderness 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 Spotsylvania County, 0.8% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Lake Wilderness?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Lake Wilderness’ flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Lake Wilderness at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (72%), and Lake Wilderness’ rate for it is lower than 86% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Lake Wilderness.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Lake Wilderness’ 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.