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Norton, VirginiaPhoto: Eli Christman (user Gamma Man) · CC BY 2.0
A−Hazard risk
Natural hazards in Norton · FEMA

FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Norton than in 80% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Norton gets an A− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 80% of U.S. towns, #134 of 253 in Virginia. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%). Flood insurance has paid 24 claims here since 1982.

River and rain flooding 86%Earthquakes 6%Strong wind 2%

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

less than 80%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade#134 of 253 in Virginia
Hazard risk
A−#134 of 253
in Virginia · lower than 80% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
River and rain flooding
86% of expected building damage
Flood claims
24
paid since 1982 · $191K
Flooded more than once
4
properties · 1 “severe repetitive loss”
Disasters paid out here
5
of 12 declared for

What stands out about Norton’s natural hazards

From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.

Lower expected damage than 80% of U.S. townsFEMA’s model of yearly storm and flood damage per dollar of building.Remembers 20026 flood claims were paid for 2002 alone, the most of any year.
By hazard

What Norton 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

86%of expected building damage
About average · lower than 55% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about once every 2 years in the area

Earthquakes

6%of expected building damage
Above average · higher than 63% of U.S. census tracts
Smaller shares here
 Strong wind Tornadoes Hurricanes Hail Wildfire Winter storms Ice storms Cold waves Lightning Landslides
FEMA models no building damage here
Coastal floodingHeat wavesAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity
People, not buildings.Counting harm to people as well as buildings, FEMA’s model puts cold waves at 19% of Norton’s expected losses. Cold waves do little damage to buildings (0.1%), so they aren’t part of the grade.

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.

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.
Hazard risk grade

What’s behind Norton’s grade

River and rain flooding is 86% of the building damage FEMA expects in Norton, and Norton’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 55% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 6% (higher than 63% of U.S. census tracts).

Where Norton sits
Norton
Least damageMiddleMost damage

A− #134 of 253 in Virginia; lower expected damage per building than 80% of U.S. towns (21,298).

All of Norton’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.

What drives the damage to buildings
River and rain flooding86%Earthquakes6%Everything else7%

The typical Virginia town has lower expected damage than 81% of U.S. towns; within the state, Norton has more expected damage per building than 53% of Virginia towns.

In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.1M a year in losses across Norton: $814K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

Shared tract.All of Norton’s 3,687 residents (2020 census) live in one census tract. FEMA publishes its model by tract, so the rate and the hazard mix are the tract’s. The flood claims below are the town’s own.
A shared figure. The grade describes the whole tract, not each street in it, and FEMA’s model is an average year for today’s buildings, not a record: the claims below are the record.

How TownRatings grades hazard risk →

Flood insurance claims

Does Norton flood? Sometimes: 24 flood claims since 1982

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Norton, from FEMA’s records: 13.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 79% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
1982: 3 claims1983: 0 claims1984: 1 claim1985: 0 claims1986: 0 claims1987: 0 claims1988: 0 claims1989: 0 claims1990: 0 claims1991: 0 claims1992: 0 claims1993: 0 claims1994: 0 claims1995: 0 claims1996: 0 claims1997: 0 claims1998: 0 claims1999: 0 claims2000: 0 claims2001: 0 claims2002: 6 claims2003: 3 claims2004: 0 claims2005: 0 claims2006: 0 claims2007: 0 claims2008: 0 claims2009: 0 claims2010: 0 claims2011: 0 claims2012: 0 claims2013: 0 claims2014: 0 claims2015: 1 claim2016: 1 claim2017: 0 claims2018: 2 claims2019: 0 claims2020: 1 claim2021: 0 claims2022: 2 claims2023: 1 claim2024: 2 claims2025: 1 claim2026: 0 claims198220022003
19822026
Biggest named events
  • The Late July Flooding2 claims · $7K
  • Hurricane Helene1 claim · $20K
24
paid claims since 1982
$191K
paid to owners
4
homes flooded more than once
$8K
average claim
Homes that flooded again and again
FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (1)Flooded 2+ times
of all homes are insured
No community discount

Norton 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.
Disasters

5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Norton

Disasters that paid out in Norton itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Norton), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.

  1. 2024Tropical Storm Helene11 households applied for aid$9K aid approved1 flood claim paid for it, $20K
  2. 2009Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$61K to the City of Norton for repairs
  3. 2003Severe Winter Storm, Record/near Record Snowfall, Heavy Rain,floodind, and Mudslide44 households applied for aid$75K aid approved$25K to the City of Norton for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
  4. 2002Severe Storms and Flooding$78K to the City of Norton for repairs6 flood claims paid that year
  5. 2000Severe Winter Storms$5K to the City of Norton for repairs
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in Norton only

has had 12 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.

Were you here?

Old photos of Norton after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.

Add to the Norton archive →
Be ready

Get ready for what Norton faces

A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.

When the river rises
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Earthquakes
  • Drop, cover and hold on.
  • Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
  • Know how to shut off the gas.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Before you buy or rent
  • 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.
When a storm is coming
Forecast and alertsWeather →911, the nearest ERSafety →

Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.

Questions about natural hazards in Norton

Is Norton at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Norton has lower expected damage per building than 80% of U.S. towns: A− for hazard risk, #134 of 253 in Virginia. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%) and earthquakes (6%). The figures are for the one census tract the town shares with its neighbors. This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Does Norton flood?

Flood insurance has paid 24 claims in Norton since 1982, $191K in all, or 13.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 79% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 4 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Late July Flooding (2).

Is Norton 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, 1.9% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.

How much is flood insurance in Norton?

FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Norton’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 Norton?

By FEMA money that reached Norton, Severe Winter Storm, Record/near Record Snowfall, Heavy Rain,floodind, and Mudslide (2003): 44 households applied for aid, $75K approved, and $25K to the City of Norton for repairs. By flood claims, Late July Flooding: 2 paid, $7K.

Is Norton at risk from river and rain flooding?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (86%), and Norton’s rate for it is lower than 55% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Norton.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Norton’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.