Photo: Bruce Emmerling · CC BY-SA 4.0Less hazard damage per building is expected in Richmond than in 91% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Richmond gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns, #64 of 253 in Virginia. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (71%), then earthquakes (18%). Flood insurance has paid 427 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 Richmond’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Richmond 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
Earthquakes
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 Richmond’s grade
River and rain flooding is 71% of the building damage FEMA expects in Richmond, and Richmond’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 78% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 18% (higher than 76% of U.S. census tracts).
A #64 of 253 in Virginia; lower expected damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Richmond’s residents live in 75 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, Richmond has less expected damage per building than 75% of Virginia towns.
Among the 400 U.S. cities of 100,000 or more, Richmond has lower expected damage per building than 96% (#17 of 400). Because it is so big, its total expected yearly loss, $39.2M, is the 298th largest of those 400.
Does Richmond flood? Yes: 427 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Richmond, from FEMA’s records: 3.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 53% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Florence4 claims · $52K
- The November 2009 nor’easter2 claims · $4K
- Hurricane Isabel2 claims · $34K
Richmond is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: the county.8 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Richmond
Disasters that paid out in Richmond itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Richmond), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Tropical Storm Helene18 households applied for aid$2K aid approved
- 2018Hurricane Florence$163K to the City of Richmond for repairs4 flood claims paid for it, $52K
- 2011Hurricane Irene$1.9M to the City of Richmond for repairs
- 2011Earthquake13 households applied for aid$21K aid approved
- 2006Tropical Depression Ernesto, Severe Storms and Flooding$30.1M to the City of Richmond for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $79K
- 2004Severe Storms, Flooding and Tornadoes Associated W Td Gaston3,845 households applied for aid$7.6M aid approved$11.8M to the City of Richmond for repairs27 flood claims paid that year
Show all 8
- 2003Hurricane Isabel10,265 households applied for aid$4.2M aid approved$7.4M to the City of Richmond for repairs2 flood claims paid for it, $34K
- 2000Severe Winter Storms$234K to the City of Richmond for repairs
has had 15 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 Richmond after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Richmond archive →Richmond and its neighbors
Richmond is 4th of the 9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montrose | A+less damage than 97% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| East Highland Park | A+less damage than 97% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Bensley | Aless damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Richmond | Aless damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | 427 |
| Lakeside | Aless damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | 25 |
| Bon Air | A−less damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Manchester | A−less damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 23 |
| Meadowbrook | A−less damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 12 |
| Tuckahoe | A−less damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 108 |
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 Richmond 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.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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.
- Richmond residents get 10% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Richmond
Is Richmond at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Richmond has lower expected damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #64 of 253 in Virginia. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (71%) and earthquakes (18%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Richmond flood?
Flood insurance has paid 427 claims in Richmond since 1978, $11.3M in all, or 3.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 53% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 60 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Florence (4).
Is Richmond 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, 0.6% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Richmond?
Richmond is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8), which takes 10% off federal flood insurance policies for its flood-proofing work. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Richmond?
By FEMA money that reached Richmond, Tropical Depression Ernesto, Severe Storms and Flooding (2006): $30.1M to the City of Richmond for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Florence: 4 paid, $52K.
Is Richmond at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (71%), and Richmond’s rate for it is lower than 78% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Richmond.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Richmond’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.