Photo: Mojo Hand · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Salem faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Salem gets a B− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns, #209 of 253 in Virginia. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (90%). Flood insurance has paid 638 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 Salem’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Salem 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 Salem’s grade
River and rain flooding is 90% of the building damage FEMA expects in Salem, and Salem’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 70% of U.S. census tracts.
B− #209 of 253 in Virginia; lower expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Salem’s residents live in 5 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, Salem has more expected damage per building than 83% of Virginia towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $9.0M a year in losses across Salem: $7.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Salem flood? Yes: 638 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Salem, from FEMA’s records: 57.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 93% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Ivan107 claims · $4.1M
- Hurricane Michael29 claims · $1.7M
- Hurricane Fran11 claims · $533K
Salem 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.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Salem
Disasters that paid out in Salem itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Salem), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2012Severe Storms and Straight-line Winds$134K to the City of Salem for repairs
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding From the Remanants of Hurricane Jeanne348 households applied for aid$1.2M aid approved115 flood claims paid that year
- 2003Severe Winter Storm, Record/near Record Snowfall, Heavy Rain,floodind, and Mudslide146 households applied for aid$989K aid approved$95K to the City of Salem for repairs70 flood claims paid that year
has had 11 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 Salem after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Salem archive →Salem and its neighbors
Salem is 3rd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cave Spring | Aless damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 64 |
| Roanoke | B+less damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 929 |
| Salem | B−less damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 638 |
| Glenvar | — | 829 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 Salem 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 Salem
Is Salem at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Salem has lower expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #209 of 253 in Virginia. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (90%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Salem flood?
Flood insurance has paid 638 claims in Salem since 1978, $18.6M in all, or 57.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 93% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 98 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Ivan (107).
Is Salem 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, 1.5% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Salem?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Salem’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 Salem?
By FEMA money that reached Salem, Severe Storms and Flooding From the Remanants of Hurricane Jeanne (2004): 348 households applied for aid, $1.2M approved. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Ivan: 107 paid, $4.1M.
Is Salem at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (90%), and Salem’s rate for it is higher than 70% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Salem.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Salem’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.