Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Waynesboro faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Waynesboro gets a B− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 50% of U.S. towns, #217 of 253 in Virginia. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%). Flood insurance has paid 293 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 Waynesboro’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Waynesboro 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 Waynesboro’s grade
River and rain flooding is 84% of the building damage FEMA expects in Waynesboro, and Waynesboro’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 68% of U.S. census tracts. Cold waves add 1%, at a rate in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
B− #217 of 253 in Virginia; higher expected damage per building than 50% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Waynesboro’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, Waynesboro has more expected damage per building than 86% of Virginia towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $6.2M a year in losses across Waynesboro: $5.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Waynesboro flood? Yes: 293 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Waynesboro, from FEMA’s records: 27.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 88% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Isabel59 claims · $1.3M
- Hurricane Fran58 claims · $1.4M
- Tropical Storm Ivan3 claims · $32K
Waynesboro 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.4 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Waynesboro
Disasters that paid out in Waynesboro itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Waynesboro), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Tropical Storm Helene5 households applied for aid$1K aid approved2 flood claims paid for it, $9K
- 2010Severe Winter Storms and Snowstorms$68K to the City of Waynesboro for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2009Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$64K to the City of Waynesboro for repairs
- 2003Hurricane Isabel129 households applied for aid$359K aid approved$87K to the City of Waynesboro for repairs59 flood claims paid for it, $1.3M
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 Waynesboro after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Waynesboro archive →Waynesboro and its neighbors
Waynesboro is 3rd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fishersville | A−less damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Dooms | B+less damage than 67% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Waynesboro | B−more damage than 50% | river and rain flooding | 293 |
| Lyndhurst | C+more damage than 56% | 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 Waynesboro 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 Waynesboro
Is Waynesboro at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Waynesboro has higher expected damage per building than 50% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #217 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 Waynesboro flood?
Flood insurance has paid 293 claims in Waynesboro since 1978, $6.2M in all, or 27.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 88% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 53 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Isabel (59).
Is Waynesboro 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, 1.1% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Waynesboro?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Waynesboro’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 Waynesboro?
By FEMA money that reached Waynesboro, Hurricane Isabel (2003): 129 households applied for aid, $359K approved, and $87K to the City of Waynesboro for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Isabel: 59 paid, $1.3M.
Is Waynesboro at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (84%), and Waynesboro’s rate for it is higher than 68% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Waynesboro.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Waynesboro’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.