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VB OceanfrontPhoto: DanRVA · CC BY-SA 4.0
A+Hazard risk
Natural hazards in Virginia Beach · FEMA

Less hazard damage per building is expected in Virginia Beach than in 96% of U.S. towns, mostly from hurricanes

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Virginia Beach gets an A+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns, #31 of 253 in Virginia State. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (53%), then river and rain flooding (28%). Flood insurance has paid 4,719 claims here since 1978.

Hurricanes 53%River and rain flooding 28%Tornadoes 5%

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 96%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade#31 of 253 in Virginia State
Hazard risk
A+#31 of 253
in Virginia State · lower than 96% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
Hurricanes
53% of expected building damage
Flood claims
4,719
paid since 1978 · $104M
Flooded more than once
666
properties · 128 “severe repetitive loss”
Flood insurance
20% off
Community discount (class 6)

What stands out about Virginia Beach’s natural hazards

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

Lower expected damage than 96% of U.S. townsFEMA’s model of yearly storm and flood damage per dollar of building.4,719 paid flood claims since 1978$104M in all; 666 properties flooded more than once. More per home than 86% of U.S. towns.20% off flood insuranceFlood-proofing work earns Virginia Beach residents a discount through FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 6).Moved out of harm’s way38 homes raised above flood level; 3 flood-prone properties bought out and cleared with FEMA grants.
By hazard

What Virginia Beach faces

Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.

Hurricanes

53%of expected building damage
Well above average · higher than 86% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about once every 4 years in the area

River and rain flooding

28%of expected building damage
Well below average · among the lowest of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about once a year in the area

Tornadoes

5%of expected building damage
About average · lower than 53% of U.S. census tracts
Smaller shares here
 Earthquakes Coastal flooding top 4% Hail Wildfire Strong wind Ice storms Lightning Winter storms Cold waves Heat waves Landslides
FEMA models no building damage here
AvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity
People, not buildings.Counting harm to people as well as buildings, FEMA’s model puts heat waves at 18% of Virginia Beach’s expected losses. Heat waves do little damage to buildings (0.0%), so they aren’t part of the grade.

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 Virginia Beach’s grade

Hurricanes are 53% of the building damage FEMA expects in Virginia Beach, and Virginia Beach’s rate of hurricanes damage is higher than 86% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 5%, at a rate in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.

Where Virginia Beach sits
Virginia Beach
Least damageMiddleMost damage

A+ #31 of 253 in Virginia State; lower expected damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns (21,298).

Virginia Beach’s residents live in 111 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.

What drives the damage to buildings
Hurricanes53%River and rain flooding28%Tornadoes5%Everything else14%

The typical Virginia State town has lower expected damage than 81% of U.S. towns; within the state, Virginia Beach has less expected damage per building than 88% of Virginia State towns.

Among the 400 U.S. cities of 100,000 or more, Virginia Beach has lower expected damage per building than 98% (#9 of 400). Because it is so big, its total expected yearly loss, $30.6M, is the 353th largest of those 400.

A firm figure. It combines 111 census tracts by where Virginia Beach’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 Virginia Beach flood? Yes: 4,719 flood claims since 1978

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Virginia Beach, from FEMA’s records: 24.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 86% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
1978: 41 claims1979: 3 claims1980: 6 claims1981: 4 claims1982: 39 claims1983: 7 claims1984: 4 claims1985: 30 claims1986: 3 claims1987: 33 claims1988: 67 claims1989: 62 claims1990: 55 claims1991: 57 claims1992: 44 claims1993: 15 claims1994: 37 claims1995: 12 claims1996: 28 claims1997: 10 claims1998: 401 claims1999: 195 claims2000: 48 claims2001: 4 claims2002: 22 claims2003: 456 claims2004: 16 claims2005: 6 claims2006: 179 claims2007: 2 claims2008: 24 claims2009: 733 claims2010: 32 claims2011: 274 claims2012: 172 claims2013: 1 claim2014: 20 claims2015: 33 claims2016: 1,346 claims2017: 16 claims2018: 43 claims2019: 28 claims2020: 41 claims2021: 5 claims2022: 12 claims2023: 15 claims2024: 12 claims2025: 23 claims2026: 3 claims200320092016
19782026
Biggest named events
  • Hurricane Matthew1,266 claims · $52.3M
  • The November 2009 nor’easter705 claims · $18.1M
  • Hurricane Isabel449 claims · $7.4M
4,719
paid claims since 1978
$104M
paid to owners
666
homes flooded more than once
$22K
average claim
Homes that flooded again and again
Each house = 12 homesFEMA “severe repetitive loss” (128)Flooded 2+ times
of all homes are insured
Community discount20% off flood insurance

Virginia Beach is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 6) for its flood-proofing work.

Insurance rates: the county.
What’s been done with FEMA grants
38homes raised above flood level
3flood-prone properties bought out and cleared
Disasters

6 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Virginia Beach

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

  1. 2024Tropical Storm Helene10 households applied for aid$1K aid approved12 flood claims paid that year
  2. 2016Hurricane Matthew2,851 households applied for aid$6.7M aid approved$6.6M to the City of Virginia Beach for repairs1,266 flood claims paid for it, $52.3M
  3. 2011Hurricane Irene$4.7M to the City of Virginia Beach for repairs234 flood claims paid for it, $4.2M
  4. 2009Severe Storms and Flooding Associated with Tropical Depression Ida and a Nor'east$1.8M to the City of Virginia Beach for repairs733 flood claims paid that year
  5. 2003Hurricane Isabel5,938 households applied for aid$1.7M aid approved$15.0M to the City of Virginia Beach for repairs449 flood claims paid for it, $7.4M
  6. 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$782K to the City of Virginia Beach for repairs195 flood claims paid that year
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in Virginia Beach only

has had 14 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.

Were you here?

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

Add to the Virginia Beach archive →
Next door

Virginia Beach and its neighbors

Virginia Beach has the lowest expected damage per building of the 3 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.

Norfolk: hazard risk A−Chesapeake: hazard risk BNorfolkChesapeakeVirginia Beach
Lowest fifthSecondMiddleFourthHighest fifth
TownHazard riskMostly (buildings)Flood claims
Virginia BeachA+less damage than 96%hurricanes4,719
NorfolkA−less damage than 80%river and rain flooding4,748
ChesapeakeBless damage than 58%river and rain flooding2,003

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 Virginia Beach faces

A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.

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 ↗
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 ↗
Tornado warnings
  • 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.
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.
  • Virginia Beach residents get 20% off flood insurance.
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 Virginia Beach

Is Virginia Beach at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Virginia Beach has lower expected damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns: A+ for hazard risk, #31 of 253 in Virginia State. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (53%) and river and rain flooding (28%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Does Virginia Beach flood?

Flood insurance has paid 4,719 claims in Virginia Beach since 1978, $104M in all, or 24.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 86% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 666 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Matthew (1,266).

Is Virginia Beach 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, 12.1% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.

How much is flood insurance in Virginia Beach?

Virginia Beach is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 6), which takes 20% off federal flood insurance policies for its flood-proofing work. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.

What was the biggest storm in Virginia Beach?

By FEMA money that reached Virginia Beach, Hurricane Isabel (2003): 5,938 households applied for aid, $1.7M approved, and $15.0M to the City of Virginia Beach for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Matthew: 1,266 paid, $52.3M.

Is Virginia Beach at risk from hurricanes?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (53%), and Virginia Beach’s rate for it is higher than 86% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Virginia Beach.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

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