Photo: Ben Schumin · CC BY-SA 2.0FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Stuarts Draft than in 85% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Stuarts Draft gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 85% of U.S. towns, #104 of 253 in Virginia. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 2024.
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 Stuarts Draft 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
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 Stuarts Draft’s grade
River and rain flooding is 82% of the building damage FEMA expects in Stuarts Draft, and Stuarts Draft’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 63% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 8% (higher than 70% of U.S. census tracts).
A #104 of 253 in Virginia; lower expected damage per building than 85% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Stuarts Draft’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, Stuarts Draft has less expected damage per building than 59% of Virginia towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.6M a year in losses across Stuarts Draft: $1.9M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Stuarts Draft flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 2024
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Stuarts Draft, from FEMA’s records: 0.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 97% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Helene1 claim · $13K
Stuarts Draft isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Augusta County.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Stuarts Draft
Disasters that paid out in Stuarts Draft itself (aid to households or repair grants to Stuarts Draft), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2003Hurricane Isabel41 households applied for aid$51K aid approved
Augusta County has had 21 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then winter storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Stuarts Draft after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Stuarts Draft archive →Stuarts Draft and its neighbors
Stuarts Draft has the lowest expected damage per building of the 2 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
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 Stuarts Draft 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.
- 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 Stuarts Draft
Is Stuarts Draft at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Stuarts Draft has lower expected damage per building than 85% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #104 of 253 in Virginia. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%) and hurricanes (8%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Stuarts Draft flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Stuarts Draft since 2024, $13K in all, or 0.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 97% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Hurricane Helene (1).
Is Stuarts Draft 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 Augusta County, 13% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Stuarts Draft?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Stuarts Draft’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 Stuarts Draft?
By FEMA money that reached Stuarts Draft, Hurricane Isabel (2003): 41 households applied for aid, $51K approved. By flood claims, Hurricane Helene: 1 paid, $13K.
Is Stuarts Draft at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (82%), and Stuarts Draft’s rate for it is lower than 63% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Stuarts Draft.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Stuarts Draft’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.