Photo: Virginia State Parks staff · CC BY 2.0FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Leesylvania than in 86% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Leesylvania gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns, #97 of 253 in Virginia. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (76%). Flood insurance has paid 7 claims here since 1996.
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 Leesylvania 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 Leesylvania’s grade
River and rain flooding is 76% of the building damage FEMA expects in Leesylvania, and Leesylvania’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 70% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 3%, at a rate in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts.
A #97 of 253 in Virginia; lower expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Leesylvania’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, Leesylvania has less expected damage per building than 62% of Virginia towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.3M a year in losses across Leesylvania: $1.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Leesylvania flood? Rarely: 7 flood claims since 1996
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Leesylvania, from FEMA’s records: 0.9 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 81% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Isabel4 claims · $514K
- Hurricane Fran3 claims · $67K
Leesylvania isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Prince William County.The storms Leesylvania remembers
None of the 16 disasters declared for Prince William County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Leesylvania itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20034 flood claims paidThe year of Hurricane Isabel, declared for Prince William County
- 19963 flood claims paidThe year of Hurricane Fran and Associated Severe Storm Cond, declared for Prince William County
Prince William 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 Leesylvania after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Leesylvania archive →Leesylvania and its neighbors
Leesylvania is 3rd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Woodbridge | Aless damage than 93% | river and rain flooding | 59 |
| Cherry Hill | Aless damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Leesylvania | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Dale City | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
| Montclair | B+less damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 11 |
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 Leesylvania 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 Leesylvania
Is Leesylvania at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Leesylvania has lower expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #97 of 253 in Virginia. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (76%) and hurricanes (8%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Leesylvania flood?
Flood insurance has paid 7 claims in Leesylvania since 1996, $581K in all, or 0.9 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 81% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Hurricane Isabel (4).
Is Leesylvania 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 Prince William County, 46% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Leesylvania?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Leesylvania’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 Leesylvania?
By flood claims, Hurricane Isabel: 4 paid, $514K.
Is Leesylvania at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (76%), and Leesylvania’s rate for it is lower than 70% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Leesylvania.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Leesylvania’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.