FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Long Branch than in 97% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Long Branch gets an A+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 97% of U.S. towns, #13 of 253 in Virginia. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (73%), then hurricanes (15%). Flood insurance has paid 5 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 Long Branch 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 Long Branch’s grade
River and rain flooding is 73% of the building damage FEMA expects in Long Branch, and Long Branch’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 88% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 15% (higher than 74% of U.S. census tracts).
A+ #13 of 253 in Virginia; lower expected damage per building than 97% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Long Branch’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, Long Branch has less expected damage per building than 95% of Virginia towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.5M a year in losses across Long Branch: $1.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Long Branch flood? Rarely: 5 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Long Branch, from FEMA’s records: 1.9 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 63% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Mid-spring storms1 claim · $2K
Long Branch 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 Long Branch remembers
None of the 16 disasters declared for Fairfax County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Long Branch itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 19791 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 19841 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 20061 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding, 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 Long Branch after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Long Branch archive →Long Branch and its neighbors
Long Branch is 2nd of the 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| George Mason | A+less damage than 98% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Long Branch | A+less damage than 97% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Fairfax | Aless damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | 35 |
| Wakefield | A−less damage than 83% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
| Burke | A−less damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 12 |
| Mantua | A−less damage than 79% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Kings Park West | A−less damage than 78% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
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 Long Branch 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 Long Branch
Is Long Branch at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Long Branch has lower expected damage per building than 97% of U.S. towns: A+ for hazard risk, #13 of 253 in Virginia. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (73%) and hurricanes (15%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Long Branch flood?
Flood insurance has paid 5 claims in Long Branch since 1979, $20K in all, or 1.9 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 63% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Mid-spring storms (1).
Is Long Branch 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 Long Branch?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Long Branch’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 Long Branch?
By flood claims, Mid-spring storms: 1 paid, $2K.
Is Long Branch at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (73%), and Long Branch’s rate for it is lower than 88% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Long Branch.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Long Branch’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.