Photo: User: Kubigula · CC BY-SA 3.0Less hazard damage per building is expected in Suffolk than in 71% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Suffolk gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns, #169 of 253 in Virginia. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (52%), then hurricanes (34%). Flood insurance has paid 163 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 Suffolk’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Suffolk 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 Suffolk’s grade
River and rain flooding is 52% of the building damage FEMA expects in Suffolk, and Suffolk’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 79% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 4%, at a rate in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
B+ #169 of 253 in Virginia; lower expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Suffolk’s residents live in 36 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, Suffolk has more expected damage per building than 67% of Virginia towns.
Among the 400 U.S. cities of 100,000 or more, Suffolk has lower expected damage per building than 83% (#70 of 400). Because it is so big, its total expected yearly loss, $25.4M, is the 369th largest of those 400.
Does Suffolk flood? Yes: 163 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Suffolk, from FEMA’s records: 4.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 55% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Matthew36 claims · $2.1M
- The November 2009 nor’easter20 claims · $660K
- Hurricane Floyd17 claims · $304K
Suffolk 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.5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Suffolk
Disasters that paid out in Suffolk itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Suffolk), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2016Hurricane Matthew299 households applied for aid$489K aid approved$562K to the City of Suffolk for repairs36 flood claims paid for it, $2.1M
- 2011Hurricane Irene$1.0M to the City of Suffolk for repairs11 flood claims paid for it, $357K
- 2003Hurricane Isabel3,003 households applied for aid$1.5M aid approved$4.8M to the City of Suffolk for repairs14 flood claims paid for it, $559K
- 2000Severe Winter Storms$59K to the City of Suffolk for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$475K to the City of Suffolk for repairs17 flood claims paid for it, $304K
has had 15 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often hurricanes and tropical storms, then winter storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Suffolk after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Suffolk archive →Suffolk and its neighbors
Suffolk is 2nd of the 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newport News | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 790 |
| Suffolk | B+less damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | 163 |
| Portsmouth | B+less damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 1,333 |
| Chesapeake | Bless damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 2,003 |
| Carrsville | — | 363 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 Suffolk 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 Suffolk
Is Suffolk at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Suffolk has lower expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #169 of 253 in Virginia. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (52%) and hurricanes (34%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Suffolk flood?
Flood insurance has paid 163 claims in Suffolk since 1978, $5.2M in all, or 4.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 55% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 24 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Matthew (36).
Is Suffolk 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, 2.5% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Suffolk?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Suffolk’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 Suffolk?
By FEMA money that reached Suffolk, Hurricane Isabel (2003): 3,003 households applied for aid, $1.5M approved, and $4.8M to the City of Suffolk for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Matthew: 36 paid, $2.1M.
Is Suffolk at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (52%), and Suffolk’s rate for it is lower than 79% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Suffolk.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Suffolk’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.