Natural hazards · Blacksburg

Blacksburg, VA natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Blacksburg comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is very low for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 5 claims here since 1978. 7 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025 · OpenFEMA claims, aid & declarations

Expected damage

How exposed is Blacksburg?

Very low

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Blacksburg to be higher than in 0% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and cold waves.

Inland flooding50%Cold waves20%Earthquakes15%Everything else16%

By hazard

What Blacksburg faces

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

Inland flooding

50% of expected damage

Well below average · higher than 3% of U.S. places

Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Cold waves

20% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 77% of U.S. places

Recorded about 4 times a year in the area

Earthquakes

15% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 57% of U.S. places

Lower here

HurricanesTornadoesHailIce stormsWinter weatherWildfireLandslidesStrong windLightningDrought

Not a risk here

Coastal floodingHeat wavesAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.

Flood insurance claims

Does Blacksburg flood?

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Blacksburg, from FEMA’s records.

5paid claims since 1978

$20Kpaid to owners

0homes flooded more than once

19782026

Biggest named events

Hurricane Eta: 1 claim, $6K

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

No community discount. Blacksburg isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Montgomery County.

Disasters that hit Blacksburg

7 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

Disasters the President declared that paid out in Blacksburg itself: aid to households, or repair grants to the Town of Blacksburg.

Brought FEMA money into BlacksburgDeclared for Montgomery County only

2025

Severe Winter Storms and Flooding

$55K to the Town of Blacksburg for repairs

2024

Tropical Storm Helene

59 households applied for aid $167K aid approved $68K to the Town of Blacksburg for repairs

2012

Severe Storms and Straight-Line Winds

$161K to the Town of Blacksburg for repairs

2009

Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm

$53K to the Town of Blacksburg for repairs

2004

Severe Storms and Flooding From the Remanants of Hurricane Jeanne

5 households applied for aid $4K aid approved

2003

Severe Winter Storm, Record/Near Record Snowfall, Heavy Rain,floodind, and Mudslide

2 households applied for aid $8K aid approved

2000

Severe Winter Storms

$24K to the Town of Blacksburg for repairs

Montgomery County has had 21 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often severe storms and hurricanes.

Around Blacksburg

Blacksburg and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Prices Forkmostly inland floodingVery low

Blacksburgmostly inland floodingVery low

Merrimacmostly inland floodingVery low

About these numbers

How to read this page

An average, not a forecastFEMA’s National Risk Index estimates the damage 18 kinds of natural hazards cause in a typical year, from decades of records and models. A quiet decade can follow a bad year.

Compared by rate“Higher than N%” compares yearly damage as a share of what’s here, so a big city isn’t rated riskier just for having more buildings. Blacksburg covers 7 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Blacksburg’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the Town of Blacksburg. FEMA’s model follows property values, so a place that recently lost many homes can rate lower than it feels.

FEMA’s expected losses across Blacksburg total about $3.6M a year, counting buildings, people and crops.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025); 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. Census tracts: U.S. Census Bureau.