Olive Hill · Photo: Nyttend · Public domainFEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Matoaca as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Matoaca gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns, #207 of 253 in Virginia. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (83%). Flood insurance has paid 2 claims here since 1999.
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 Matoaca 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 Matoaca’s grade
River and rain flooding is 83% of the building damage FEMA expects in Matoaca, and Matoaca’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 63% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 9% (higher than 81% of U.S. census tracts).
B #207 of 253 in Virginia; lower expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Matoaca’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, Matoaca has more expected damage per building than 82% of Virginia towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $422K a year in losses across Matoaca: $329K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Matoaca flood? Rarely: 2 flood claims since 1999
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Matoaca, from FEMA’s records: 1.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 66% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Floyd1 claim · $11K
Matoaca isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Chesterfield County.The storms Matoaca remembers
None of the 21 disasters declared for Chesterfield County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Matoaca itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 19991 flood claims paidThe year of Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations, declared for Chesterfield County
- 20041 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms, Flooding and Tornadoes Associated W Td Gaston, declared for Chesterfield County
Chesterfield County has had 21 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 Matoaca after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Matoaca archive →Matoaca and its neighbors
Matoaca is 3rd of the 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petersburg | Aless damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | 84 |
| Ettrick | Aless damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Matoaca | Bless damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
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 Matoaca 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 Matoaca
Is Matoaca at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Matoaca has lower expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #207 of 253 in Virginia. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (83%) and hurricanes (9%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Matoaca flood?
Flood insurance has paid 2 claims in Matoaca since 1999, $16K in all, or 1.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 66% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Hurricane Floyd (1).
Is Matoaca 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 Chesterfield County, 26% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Matoaca?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Matoaca’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 Matoaca?
By flood claims, Hurricane Floyd: 1 paid, $11K.
Is Matoaca at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (83%), and Matoaca’s rate for it is higher than 63% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Matoaca.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Matoaca’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.