Photo: Ken Lund from Las Vegas, Nevada, USA · CC BY-SA 2.0Less hazard damage per building is expected in Petersburg than in 92% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Petersburg gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns, #55 of 253 in Virginia. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (74%). Flood insurance has paid 84 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 stands out about Petersburg’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Petersburg 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 Petersburg’s grade
River and rain flooding is 74% of the building damage FEMA expects in Petersburg, and Petersburg’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 79% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 10% (higher than 70% of U.S. census tracts).
A #55 of 253 in Virginia; lower expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Petersburg’s residents live in 11 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, Petersburg has less expected damage per building than 79% of Virginia towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $5.4M a year in losses across Petersburg: $4.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Petersburg flood? Sometimes: 84 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Petersburg, from FEMA’s records: 4.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 58% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Floyd10 claims · $75K
- Hurricane Isabel6 claims · $71K
- Hurricane Irene5 claims · $27K
Petersburg 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.5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Petersburg
Disasters that paid out in Petersburg itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Petersburg), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2011Hurricane Irene$342K to the City of Petersburg for repairs5 flood claims paid for it, $27K
- 2004Severe Storms, Flooding and Tornadoes Associated W Td Gaston21 households applied for aid$41K aid approved3 flood claims paid that year
- 2003Hurricane Isabel1,800 households applied for aid$912K aid approved$2.7M to the City of Petersburg for repairs6 flood claims paid for it, $71K
- 2000Severe Winter Storms$106K to the City of Petersburg for repairs
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$503K to the City of Petersburg for repairs10 flood claims paid for it, $75K
has had 14 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 Petersburg after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Petersburg archive →Petersburg and its neighbors
Petersburg has the lowest expected damage per building of the 4 graded towns here. 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 | — |
| Colonial Heights | Bless damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 63 |
| Matoaca | Bless damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Fort Gregg-Adams | — | 0 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
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 Petersburg 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 Petersburg
Is Petersburg at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Petersburg has lower expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #55 of 253 in Virginia. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (74%) and hurricanes (10%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Petersburg flood?
Flood insurance has paid 84 claims in Petersburg since 1979, $2.1M in all, or 4.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 58% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 16 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Floyd (10).
Is Petersburg 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, 0.9% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Petersburg?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Petersburg’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 Petersburg?
By FEMA money that reached Petersburg, Hurricane Isabel (2003): 1,800 households applied for aid, $912K approved, and $2.7M to the City of Petersburg for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Floyd: 10 paid, $75K.
Is Petersburg at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (74%), and Petersburg’s rate for it is lower than 79% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Petersburg.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Petersburg’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.