Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Lexington as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Lexington gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns, #196 of 253 in Virginia. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (80%). Flood insurance has paid 29 claims here since 1982.
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 Lexington 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
Earthquakes
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 Lexington’s grade
River and rain flooding is 80% of the building damage FEMA expects in Lexington, and Lexington’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 58% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 8% (higher than 78% of U.S. census tracts).
B #196 of 253 in Virginia; lower expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Lexington’s residents live in 2 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, Lexington has more expected damage per building than 77% of Virginia towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.2M a year in losses across Lexington: $1.6M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Lexington flood? Sometimes: 29 flood claims since 1982
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Lexington, from FEMA’s records: 10.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 74% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Fran3 claims · $120K
- Hurricane Irene1 claim · $2K
Lexington isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: the county.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Lexington
Disasters that paid out in Lexington itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Lexington), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2012Severe Storms and Straight-line Winds$184K to the City of Lexington for repairs
- 2003Hurricane Isabel3 households applied for aid$7K aid approved
has had 11 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 Lexington after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Lexington archive →Lexington and its neighbors
Lexington has the lowest expected damage per building of the 2 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington | Bless damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 29 |
| East Lexington | C+more damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | — |
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 Lexington 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.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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 Lexington
Is Lexington at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Lexington has lower expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #196 of 253 in Virginia. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (80%) and hurricanes (8%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Lexington flood?
Flood insurance has paid 29 claims in Lexington since 1982, $407K in all, or 10.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 74% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 4 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Fran (3).
Is Lexington 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 the county, 0.5% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Lexington?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Lexington’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 Lexington?
By FEMA money that reached Lexington, Severe Storms and Straight-line Winds (2012): $184K to the City of Lexington for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Fran: 3 paid, $120K.
Is Lexington at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (80%), and Lexington’s rate for it is higher than 58% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Lexington.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Lexington’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.