Emmanuel Church at Brook Hill · Photo: Crazyale · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Lakeside faces less hazard damage per building than 87% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Lakeside gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 87% of U.S. towns, #86 of 253 in Virginia. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (60%), then earthquakes (27%). Flood insurance has paid 25 claims here since 1979.
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 Lakeside’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Lakeside 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
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 Lakeside’s grade
River and rain flooding is 60% of the building damage FEMA expects in Lakeside, and Lakeside’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 79% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 27% (higher than 79% of U.S. census tracts).
A #86 of 253 in Virginia; lower expected damage per building than 87% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Lakeside’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, Lakeside has less expected damage per building than 66% of Virginia towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.9M a year in losses across Lakeside: $2.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Lakeside flood? Sometimes: 25 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Lakeside, from FEMA’s records: 4.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 56% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Lakeside 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.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Lakeside
Disasters that paid out in Lakeside itself (aid to households or repair grants to Lakeside), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2004Severe Storms, Flooding and Tornadoes Associated W Td Gaston1 households applied for aid$2K aid approved12 flood claims paid that year
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 Lakeside after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Lakeside archive →Lakeside and its neighbors
Lakeside is 4th of the 4 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.
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 Lakeside 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.
- 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 Lakeside
Is Lakeside at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Lakeside has lower expected damage per building than 87% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #86 of 253 in Virginia. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (60%) and earthquakes (27%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Lakeside flood?
Flood insurance has paid 25 claims in Lakeside since 1979, $531K in all, or 4.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 56% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Lakeside 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 Lakeside?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Lakeside’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 Lakeside?
By FEMA money that reached Lakeside, Severe Storms, Flooding and Tornadoes Associated W Td Gaston (2004): 1 households applied for aid, $2K approved.
Is Lakeside at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (60%), and Lakeside’s rate for it is lower than 79% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Lakeside.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Lakeside’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.