Photo: Khalid Mahmood · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA puts Woodbridge’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 93% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Woodbridge gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 93% of U.S. towns, #51 of 253 in Virginia. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (77%). Flood insurance has paid 59 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 Woodbridge’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Woodbridge 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 Woodbridge’s grade
River and rain flooding is 77% of the building damage FEMA expects in Woodbridge, and Woodbridge’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 78% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 9% (higher than 70% of U.S. census tracts).
A #51 of 253 in Virginia; lower expected damage per building than 93% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Woodbridge’s residents live in 10 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, Woodbridge has less expected damage per building than 80% of Virginia towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.3M a year in losses across Woodbridge: $2.9M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Woodbridge flood? Sometimes: 59 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Woodbridge, from FEMA’s records: 3.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 54% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Isabel9 claims · $667K
- Hurricane Fran5 claims · $75K
- The Mid-spring storms1 claim · $4K
Woodbridge isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Prince William County.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Woodbridge
Disasters that paid out in Woodbridge itself (aid to households or repair grants to Woodbridge), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2003Hurricane Isabel120 households applied for aid$183K aid approved9 flood claims paid for it, $667K
Prince William County has had 16 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 Woodbridge after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Woodbridge archive →Woodbridge and its neighbors
Woodbridge has the lowest expected damage per building of the 4 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Woodbridge | Aless damage than 93% | river and rain flooding | 59 |
| Leesylvania | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Lake Ridge | A−less damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Mason Neck | B+less damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
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 Woodbridge 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 Woodbridge
Is Woodbridge at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Woodbridge has lower expected damage per building than 93% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #51 of 253 in Virginia. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (77%) and hurricanes (9%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Woodbridge flood?
Flood insurance has paid 59 claims in Woodbridge since 1978, $2.0M in all, or 3.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 54% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Hurricane Isabel (9).
Is Woodbridge 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 Prince William County, 46% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Woodbridge?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Woodbridge’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 Woodbridge?
By FEMA money that reached Woodbridge, Hurricane Isabel (2003): 120 households applied for aid, $183K approved. By flood claims, Hurricane Isabel: 9 paid, $667K.
Is Woodbridge at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (77%), and Woodbridge’s rate for it is lower than 78% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Woodbridge.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Woodbridge’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.