Flood insurance in Virginia
Flood insurance policies, average premiums, flood zones and claims history for Virginia, county by county, from official FEMA records.
Flood claims paid per year
NFIP claims paid in Virginia, 2000–2026
The three costliest years. The worst was 2003, with $236.2 million paid on 11,938 claims.
Insured buildings by flood zone
Zone not reported for 33% of policies; shares are of policies with a known zone.
Costliest flood events
Named events by NFIP claims paid in Virginia
| Event | Year | Claims | Paid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Isabel | 2003 | 11,108 | $225.4 million |
| November 2009 Nor'easter | 2009 | 6,286 | $103.0 million |
| Hurricane Matthew | 2016 | 2,299 | $72.1 million |
| Flooding | 1985 | 1,557 | $37.7 million |
| Hurricane Irene | 2011 | 2,658 | $33.4 million |
Flood insurance by county
Counties in Virginia with detailed pages, by number of policies. 87 smaller counties are included in the state totals.
| County | Policies | Avg premium | Claims since 1978 | Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach city | 20,049 | $720 | 6,260 | $103.8 million |
| Norfolk city | 11,042 | $737 | 6,019 | $69.1 million |
| Hampton city | 9,172 | $761 | 5,774 | $73.7 million |
| Chesapeake city | 7,340 | $639 | 2,634 | $27.3 million |
| Fairfax County | 5,191 | $748 | 1,488 | $16.5 million |
| Portsmouth city | 3,687 | $586 | 1,748 | $20.0 million |
| Poquoson city | 3,015 | $1,094 | 4,290 | $72.9 million |
| Accomack County | 2,896 | $950 | 1,114 | $12.6 million |
| York County | 2,571 | $1,173 | 1,569 | $34.0 million |
| Alexandria city | 1,596 | $1,418 | 404 | $7.2 million |
| Newport News city | 1,523 | $546 | 1,065 | $23.9 million |
| Arlington County | 1,395 | $694 | 215 | $1.9 million |
| Gloucester County | 1,369 | $940 | 1,378 | $30.9 million |
| Mathews County | 1,157 | $1,179 | 1,162 | $20.5 million |
| Henrico County | 1,083 | $689 | 357 | $4.2 million |
| Prince William County | 1,057 | $869 | 485 | $5.8 million |
| James City County | 863 | $655 | 370 | $6.4 million |
| Suffolk city | 825 | $470 | 234 | $5.2 million |
| Chesterfield County | 759 | $1,043 | 268 | $3.6 million |
| Fairfax city | 716 | $1,357 | 53 | $940 thousand |
| Loudoun County | 587 | $745 | 168 | $2.0 million |
| Richmond city | 559 | $1,043 | 547 | $11.8 million |
| Northumberland County | 533 | $1,104 | 385 | $6.9 million |
| Roanoke city | 363 | $2,264 | 1,184 | $20.2 million |
| Roanoke County | 316 | $1,537 | 583 | $6.6 million |
| Salem city | 221 | $2,560 | 812 | $18.9 million |
Common questions
How much does flood insurance cost in Virginia?
The average NFIP flood insurance policy in Virginia costs about $868 a year. Your own premium depends on your building's flood risk, elevation and the coverage you choose.
How many homes have flood insurance in Virginia?
There are about 89,785 National Flood Insurance Program policies in force in Virginia, according to FEMA's latest policy data. Private flood policies are not included.
How often does Virginia flood?
Since 1978, NFIP policyholders in Virginia have filed 50,609 flood claims, with $771.8 million paid out. 3,123 of those claims were in the last 10 years.
Does homeowners insurance cover flooding?
No. Standard homeowners and renters insurance policies exclude flood damage. You need a separate flood policy from the NFIP or a private insurer.
How long until a new flood policy starts?
NFIP policies usually have a 30-day waiting period, so buying when a storm is already forecast is normally too late. Exceptions apply, for example when a lender requires the policy at closing.
How to get flood insurance
Most flood policies are sold through the National Flood Insurance Program by regular insurance agents. Ask the agent who handles your home or car insurance, or find one through FloodSmart.gov, FEMA's official flood insurance site. Private flood insurers also sell policies in many areas and are worth comparing.