Photo: Brian Stansberry · CC BY 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Richlands faces more hazard damage per building than 85% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Richlands gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 85% of U.S. towns, #251 of 253 in Virginia. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (95%). Flood insurance has paid 125 claims here since 1978.
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 Richlands’ natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Richlands 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
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 Richlands’ grade
River and rain flooding is 95% of the building damage FEMA expects in Richlands, and Richlands’ rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 7% of U.S. census tracts.
D #251 of 253 in Virginia; higher expected damage per building than 85% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Richlands’ 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, Richlands has more expected damage per building than 99% of Virginia towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.6M a year in losses across Richlands: $2.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Richlands flood? Yes: 125 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Richlands, from FEMA’s records: 44.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 92% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Richlands isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Tazewell County.7 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Richlands
Disasters that paid out in Richlands itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Richlands), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2025Severe Winter Storms and Flooding$360K to the Town of Richlands for repairs10 flood claims paid that year
- 2024Tropical Storm Helene129 households applied for aid$161K aid approved$106K to the Town of Richlands for repairs
- 2009Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$69K to the Town of Richlands for repairs4 flood claims paid that year
- 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding137 households applied for aid$271K aid approved5 flood claims paid that year
- 2003Severe Storms and Flooding79 households applied for aid$160K aid approved
- 2003Severe Winter Storm, Record/near Record Snowfall, Heavy Rain,floodind, and Mudslide4 households applied for aid$2K aid approved
Show all 7
- 2001Severe Storms and Flooding$12K to the Town of Richlands for repairs
Tazewell County has had 22 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then winter storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Richlands after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Richlands archive →Richlands and its neighbors
Richlands is 2nd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Bluff | C−more damage than 79% | river and rain flooding | 11 |
| Richlands | Dmore damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 125 |
| Raven | Dmore damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | 31 |
| Doran | — | 37 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 Richlands 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.
- 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 Richlands
Is Richlands at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Richlands has higher expected damage per building than 85% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #251 of 253 in Virginia. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (95%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Richlands flood?
Flood insurance has paid 125 claims in Richlands since 1978, $2.8M in all, or 44.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 92% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 18 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Richlands 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 Tazewell County, 32% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.7% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Richlands?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Richlands’ 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 Richlands?
By FEMA money that reached Richlands, Severe Winter Storms and Flooding (2025): $360K to the Town of Richlands for repairs.
Is Richlands at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (95%), and Richlands’ rate for it is in the top 7% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Richlands.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Richlands’ 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.