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PulaskiVAMainStreetPhoto: DwayneP · CC BY-SA 3.0
C+Hazard risk
Natural hazards in Pulaski · FEMA

FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Pulaski as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Pulaski gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns, #229 of 253 in Virginia. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (90%). Flood insurance has paid 17 claims here since 1989.

River and rain flooding 90%Earthquakes 7%Tornadoes 1%

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

more than 60%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade#229 of 253 in Virginia
Hazard risk
C+#229 of 253
in Virginia · higher than 60% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
River and rain flooding
90% of expected building damage
Flood claims
17
paid since 1989 · $184K
Flooded more than once
3
properties
Disasters paid out here
5
of 18 declared for Pulaski County
By hazard

What Pulaski 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

90%of expected building damage
Above average · higher than 78% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Earthquakes

7%of expected building damage
Above average · higher than 70% of U.S. census tracts
Smaller shares here
 Tornadoes Strong wind Hurricanes Hail Wildfire Winter storms Ice storms Landslides top 5% Lightning Cold waves
FEMA models no building damage here
Coastal floodingHeat wavesAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity

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 Pulaski’s grade

River and rain flooding is 90% of the building damage FEMA expects in Pulaski, and Pulaski’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 78% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 7% (higher than 70% of U.S. census tracts).

Where Pulaski sits
Pulaski
Least damageMiddleMost damage

C+ #229 of 253 in Virginia; higher expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns (21,298).

Pulaski’s residents live in 4 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.

What drives the damage to buildings
River and rain flooding90%Earthquakes7%Everything else4%

The typical Virginia town has lower expected damage than 81% of U.S. towns; within the state, Pulaski has more expected damage per building than 90% of Virginia towns.

In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.2M a year in losses across Pulaski: $2.6M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

A small-area figure. Pulaski covers 4 census tracts, combined by where residents live. FEMA’s model is an average year for today’s buildings, not a record: the claims and disasters below are the record.

How TownRatings grades hazard risk →

Flood insurance claims

Does Pulaski flood? Sometimes: 17 flood claims since 1989

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Pulaski, from FEMA’s records: 4.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 55% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
1989: 1 claim1990: 1 claim1991: 0 claims1992: 0 claims1993: 2 claims1994: 0 claims1995: 1 claim1996: 3 claims1997: 0 claims1998: 1 claim1999: 0 claims2000: 0 claims2001: 0 claims2002: 0 claims2003: 0 claims2004: 0 claims2005: 0 claims2006: 0 claims2007: 0 claims2008: 0 claims2009: 1 claim2010: 4 claims2011: 0 claims2012: 0 claims2013: 0 claims2014: 0 claims2015: 2 claims2016: 0 claims2017: 1 claim2018: 0 claims2019: 0 claims2020: 0 claims2021: 0 claims2022: 0 claims2023: 0 claims2024: 0 claims2025: 0 claims2026: 0 claims199319962010
19892026
17
paid claims since 1989
$184K
paid to owners
3
homes flooded more than once
$11K
average claim
Homes that flooded again and again
FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (0)Flooded 2+ times
of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
No community discount

Pulaski isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Pulaski County.
What’s been done with FEMA grants
30flood-prone properties bought out and cleared
Disasters

5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Pulaski

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

  1. 2025Severe Winter Storms and Flooding$134K to the Town of Pulaski for repairs
  2. 2024Tropical Storm Helene85 households applied for aid$69K aid approved$69K to the Town of Pulaski for repairs
  3. 2018Hurricane Florence$6K to the Town of Pulaski for repairs
  4. 2012Severe Storms and Straight-line Winds$8K to the Town of Pulaski for repairs
  5. 2003Severe Winter Storm, Record/near Record Snowfall, Heavy Rain,floodind, and Mudslide10 households applied for aid$11K aid approved
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in PulaskiPulaski County only

Pulaski County has had 18 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.

Were you here?

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

Add to the Pulaski archive →
Be ready

Get ready for what Pulaski 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 Pulaski

Is Pulaski at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Pulaski has higher expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #229 of 253 in Virginia. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (90%) and earthquakes (7%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Does Pulaski flood?

Flood insurance has paid 17 claims in Pulaski since 1989, $184K in all, or 4.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 55% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 3 properties have flooded more than once.

Is Pulaski 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 Pulaski County, 14% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.5% of all homes do.

How much is flood insurance in Pulaski?

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

By FEMA money that reached Pulaski, Tropical Storm Helene (2024): 85 households applied for aid, $69K approved, and $69K to the Town of Pulaski for repairs.

Is Pulaski at risk from river and rain flooding?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (90%), and Pulaski’s rate for it is higher than 78% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Pulaski.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

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