Photo: Joe Ravi · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA puts Roanoke’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 74% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Roanoke gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns, #162 of 253 in Virginia. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (89%). Flood insurance has paid 929 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 Roanoke’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Roanoke 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 Roanoke’s grade
River and rain flooding is 89% of the building damage FEMA expects in Roanoke, and Roanoke’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 53% of U.S. census tracts.
B+ #162 of 253 in Virginia; lower expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Roanoke’s residents live in 25 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, Roanoke has more expected damage per building than 64% of Virginia towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $24.5M a year in losses across Roanoke: $20.6M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Roanoke flood? Yes: 929 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Roanoke, from FEMA’s records: 18.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 83% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Ivan94 claims · $3.4M
- Hurricane Michael18 claims · $339K
- Hurricane Fran15 claims · $59K
Roanoke is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 6) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: the county.5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Roanoke
Disasters that paid out in Roanoke itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Roanoke), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Tropical Storm Helene9 households applied for aid$132K to the City of Roanoke for repairs
- 2012Severe Storms and Straight-line Winds$543K to the City of Roanoke for repairs
- 2009Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$238K to the City of Roanoke for repairs7 flood claims paid that year
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding From the Remanants of Hurricane Jeanne270 households applied for aid$587K aid approved109 flood claims paid that year
- 2003Severe Winter Storm, Record/near Record Snowfall, Heavy Rain,floodind, and Mudslide62 households applied for aid$51K aid approved$102K to the City of Roanoke for repairs41 flood claims paid that year
has had 15 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often winter storms, then severe storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Roanoke after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Roanoke archive →Roanoke and its neighbors
Roanoke is 3rd of the 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cave Spring | Aless damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 64 |
| Vinton | Aless damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | 67 |
| Roanoke | B+less damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 929 |
| Hollins | Bless damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 79 |
| Salem | B−less damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 638 |
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 Roanoke 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.
- Roanoke residents get 20% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Roanoke
Is Roanoke at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Roanoke has lower expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #162 of 253 in Virginia. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (89%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Roanoke flood?
Flood insurance has paid 929 claims in Roanoke since 1978, $20.8M in all, or 18.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 83% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 91 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Ivan (94).
Is Roanoke 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, 0.7% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Roanoke?
Roanoke is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 6), which takes 20% 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 Roanoke?
By FEMA money that reached Roanoke, Severe Storms and Flooding From the Remanants of Hurricane Jeanne (2004): 270 households applied for aid, $587K approved. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Ivan: 94 paid, $3.4M.
Is Roanoke at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (89%), and Roanoke’s rate for it is higher than 53% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Roanoke.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Roanoke’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.