Vestal's Gap Road and Lanesville Historic District · Photo: Cecouchman · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Sterling faces less hazard damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Sterling gets an A+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns, #25 of 253 in Virginia. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (76%). Flood insurance has paid 3 claims here since 2011.
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 Sterling 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
Hurricanes
Tornadoes
Earthquakes
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 Sterling’s grade
River and rain flooding is 76% of the building damage FEMA expects in Sterling, and Sterling’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 84% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 7% (higher than 66% of U.S. census tracts).
A+ #25 of 253 in Virginia; lower expected damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Sterling’s residents live in 6 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, Sterling has less expected damage per building than 90% of Virginia towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.3M a year in losses across Sterling: $2.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Sterling flood? Rarely: 3 flood claims since 2011
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Sterling, from FEMA’s records: 0.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 95% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Sterling isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Loudoun County.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Sterling
Disasters that paid out in Sterling itself (aid to households or repair grants to Sterling), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2003Hurricane Isabel10 households applied for aid$3K aid approved
Loudoun County has had 12 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 Sterling after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Sterling archive →Sterling and its neighbors
Sterling is 3rd of the 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oak Grove | A+among the lowest damage | river and rain flooding | — |
| Dulles Town Center | A+less damage than 98% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Sterling | A+less damage than 96% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Sugarland Run | Aless damage than 93% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Ashburn | Aless damage than 93% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Cascades | Aless damage than 86% | 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.
Get ready for what Sterling 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.
- 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.
- Pick your spot now: the lowest floor, an inside room, no windows.
- A watch means be ready; a warning means take cover now.
- Keep shoes and a flashlight by the bed.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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 Sterling
Is Sterling at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Sterling has lower expected damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns: A+ for hazard risk, #25 of 253 in Virginia. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (76%) and hurricanes (7%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Sterling flood?
Flood insurance has paid 3 claims in Sterling since 2011, $20K in all, or 0.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 95% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Sterling 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 Loudoun County, 91% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.0% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Sterling?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Sterling’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 Sterling?
By FEMA money that reached Sterling, Hurricane Isabel (2003): 10 households applied for aid, $3K approved.
Is Sterling at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (76%), and Sterling’s rate for it is lower than 84% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Sterling.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Sterling’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.