Photo: Ser Amantio di Nicolao · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Lorton faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Lorton gets a B− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 50% of U.S. towns, #215 of 253 in Virginia. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (90%). Flood insurance has paid 4 claims here since 2011.
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 Lorton 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 Lorton’s grade
River and rain flooding is 90% of the building damage FEMA expects in Lorton, and Lorton’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 72% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 6% (higher than 70% of U.S. census tracts).
B− #215 of 253 in Virginia; lower expected damage per building than 50% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Lorton’s residents live in 4 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, Lorton has more expected damage per building than 85% of Virginia towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.8M a year in losses across Lorton: $4.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Lorton flood? Rarely: 4 flood claims since 2011
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Lorton, from FEMA’s records: 0.5 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 88% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Lorton 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.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Lorton
Disasters that paid out in Lorton itself (aid to households or repair grants to Lorton), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2003Hurricane Isabel28 households applied for aid$656 aid approved
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 Lorton after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Lorton archive →Lorton and its neighbors
Lorton is 4th of the 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newington | A−less damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 13 |
| Laurel Hill | B+less damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Mason Neck | B+less damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Lorton | B−less damage than 50% | 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 Lorton 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 Lorton
Is Lorton at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Lorton has lower expected damage per building than 50% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #215 of 253 in Virginia. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (90%) and hurricanes (6%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Lorton flood?
Flood insurance has paid 4 claims in Lorton since 2011, $59K in all, or 0.5 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 88% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Lorton 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 Lorton?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Lorton’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 Lorton?
By FEMA money that reached Lorton, Hurricane Isabel (2003): 28 households applied for aid, $656 approved.
Is Lorton at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (90%), and Lorton’s rate for it is higher than 72% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Lorton.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Lorton’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.