VA Business Toolkit
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Threats & Emergencies
Floods
Flood Home • Flood Basics • Responding to Floods • Reduce Your Risk
According to the National Weather Service, flash flooding is the No. 1 weather-related killer in the U.S., costing an average of $3.7 billion annually. FEMA cites flooding as the cause of 90 percent of all natural disaster damage, excluding drought.
Flood Risks Extend Statewide
Flooding events caused by severe storms, hurricanes, tropical storms and tropical depressions have plagued the Commonwealth of Virginia. Virginia’s abundance of water, its many low-lying areas and its coastline make it particularly susceptible to flooding.
Between 1996 and 2005, Virginia experienced 13 flood-related federally declared disasters, and 12 hurricanes tracked across the state, including Floyd, Jeanne, Isabel, Bonnie, Fran and Dennis.
- Tropical Storm Gaston (2004): This storm stalled over the commonwealth and dropped 12 – 14 inches of rain in Richmond in less than 10 hours, causing devastating flash floods.
- Hurricane Fran (1996): Widespread 5- to 10-inch amounts of rain were recorded over the Middle Atlantic region with 14 to nearly 16 inches in parts of Virginia. Flood damage across the state totaled approximately $1 billion.
- Severe Storm (June 1995): This was the worst flash flooding in Virginia since Camille in 1969. It is estimated that near 20 inches of rain fell in southwestern Madison County in less 12 hours.
Key Virginia Flood Insurance Statistics
(Source: National Flood Insurance Program)
Virginia is not flood-insured. Even though there are nearly 2.7 million households in Virginia (2000 US Census), there are less than 92,000 flood insurance policies in effect throughout the state (data as of 5/31/2006).
If you live in a highest-risk area (special flood hazard area), you need to be covered by flood insurance. Fifty-two percent of households in the highest-risk areas of the state are financially protected with flood coverage. However, more than 16,000 homeowners lack this vital protection against the devastating effects of flooding.
You don’t have to live in a highest-risk area to be at risk for floods. Approximately 25 percent of all flood claims occur outside of a special flood hazard area, yet only 4.3 percent of Virginia households in low-to moderate-risk areas are covered with flood insurance protection.
Find out more at FloodSmart.gov. 
