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Cobble Hill FarmCobble Hill Farm · Photo: Nyttend · Public domain
A−Hazard risk
Natural hazards in Staunton · FEMA

On FEMA’s figures, Staunton faces less hazard damage per building than 81% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Staunton gets an A− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 81% of U.S. towns, #124 of 253 in Virginia. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%). Flood insurance has paid 29 claims here since 1978.

River and rain flooding 84%Hurricanes 6%Earthquakes 3%

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

less than 81%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade#124 of 253 in Virginia
Hazard risk
A−#124 of 253
in Virginia · lower than 81% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
River and rain flooding
84% of expected building damage
Flood claims
29
paid since 1978 · $665K
Flooded more than once
2
properties
Disasters paid out here
3
of 11 declared for

What stands out about Staunton’s natural hazards

From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.

Lower expected damage than 81% of U.S. townsFEMA’s model of yearly storm and flood damage per dollar of building.FEMA-funded flood-proofing1 building floodproofed with FEMA grants.Remembers 200310 flood claims were paid for 2003 alone, the most of any year.
By hazard

What Staunton 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

84%of expected building damage
About average · lower than 58% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about once every 2 years in the area

Hurricanes

6%of expected building damage
Above average · higher than 68% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about once every 19 years in the area
Smaller shares here
 Earthquakes Tornadoes Strong wind Cold waves top 0% Winter storms Hail Ice storms Lightning Wildfire Heat waves Landslides
FEMA models no building damage here
Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic 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 Staunton’s grade

River and rain flooding is 84% of the building damage FEMA expects in Staunton, and Staunton’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 58% of U.S. census tracts. Cold waves add 1%, at a rate in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.

Where Staunton sits
Staunton
Least damageMiddleMost damage

A− #124 of 253 in Virginia; lower expected damage per building than 81% of U.S. towns (21,298).

Staunton’s residents live in 7 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.

What drives the damage to buildings
River and rain flooding84%Hurricanes6%Earthquakes3%Everything else7%

The typical Virginia town has lower expected damage than 81% of U.S. towns; within the state, Staunton has less expected damage per building than 51% of Virginia towns.

In dollars, FEMA expects about $5.3M a year in losses across Staunton: $4.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

A firm figure. It combines 7 census tracts by where Staunton’s 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 Staunton flood? Sometimes: 29 flood claims since 1978

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Staunton, from FEMA’s records: 2.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 58% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
1978: 1 claim1979: 0 claims1980: 0 claims1981: 0 claims1982: 0 claims1983: 0 claims1984: 0 claims1985: 0 claims1986: 0 claims1987: 0 claims1988: 0 claims1989: 0 claims1990: 0 claims1991: 0 claims1992: 0 claims1993: 0 claims1994: 0 claims1995: 0 claims1996: 5 claims1997: 0 claims1998: 0 claims1999: 0 claims2000: 0 claims2001: 0 claims2002: 0 claims2003: 10 claims2004: 0 claims2005: 0 claims2006: 1 claim2007: 0 claims2008: 0 claims2009: 0 claims2010: 0 claims2011: 0 claims2012: 0 claims2013: 0 claims2014: 0 claims2015: 0 claims2016: 0 claims2017: 1 claim2018: 0 claims2019: 0 claims2020: 10 claims2021: 0 claims2022: 1 claim2023: 0 claims2024: 0 claims2025: 0 claims2026: 0 claims199620032020
19782026
Biggest named events
  • Hurricane Fran5 claims · $65K
  • Hurricane Isabel1 claim · $3K
29
paid claims since 1978
$665K
paid to owners
2
homes flooded more than once
$23K
average claim
Homes that flooded again and again
FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (0)Flooded 2+ times
of all homes are insured
No community discount

Staunton 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.
What’s been done with FEMA grants
1building floodproofed
Disasters

3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Staunton

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

  1. 2012Severe Storms and Straight-line Winds$107K to the City of Staunton for repairs
  2. 2009Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$147K to the City of Staunton for repairs
  3. 2003Hurricane Isabel61 households applied for aid$60K aid approved$32K to the City of Staunton for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $3K
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in Staunton only

has had 11 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.

Were you here?

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

Add to the Staunton archive →
Next door

Staunton and its neighbors

Staunton is 2nd of the 3 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.

Verona: hazard risk A−Jolivue: hazard risk AVeronaJolivueStaunton
Lowest fifthSecondMiddleFourthHighest fifth
TownHazard riskMostly (buildings)Flood claims
JolivueAless damage than 87%river and rain flooding—
StauntonA−less damage than 81%river and rain flooding29
VeronaA−less damage than 76%river and rain flooding—

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.

Be ready

Get ready for what Staunton 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 ↗
Hurricane season
  • 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.
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 Staunton

Is Staunton at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Staunton has lower expected damage per building than 81% of U.S. towns: A− for hazard risk, #124 of 253 in Virginia. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%) and hurricanes (6%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Does Staunton flood?

Flood insurance has paid 29 claims in Staunton since 1978, $665K in all, or 2.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 58% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 2 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Fran (5).

Is Staunton 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 Staunton?

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

By FEMA money that reached Staunton, Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm (2009): $147K to the City of Staunton for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Fran: 5 paid, $65K.

Is Staunton at risk from river and rain flooding?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (84%), and Staunton’s rate for it is lower than 58% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Staunton.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

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