Natural hazards · Chesapeake

Chesapeake, VA natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Chesapeake comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is moderate for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 2,003 claims here since 1978. 5 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Chesapeake?

Moderate

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Chesapeake to be higher than in 40% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and hurricanes.

Inland flooding51%Hurricanes26%Tornadoes6%Heat waves6%Coastal flooding5%Everything else6%

By hazard

What Chesapeake faces

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

Inland flooding

51% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 40% of U.S. places

Recorded about once a year in the area

Hurricanes

26% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 86% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 4 years in the area

Tornadoes

6% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 46% of U.S. places

Heat waves

6% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 30% of U.S. places

Recorded about 7 times a year in the area

Coastal flooding

5% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 97% of U.S. places

Lower here

HailIce stormsWinter weatherCold wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesStrong windLightningDrought

Not a risk here

AvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic 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 Chesapeake flood?

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

2,003paid claims since 1978

$27.2Mpaid to owners

415homes flooded more than once

19782026

Biggest named events

November 2009 Nor'easter: 511 claims, $9.2M
Hurricane Isabel: 443 claims, $5.9M
Hurricane Irene: 296 claims, $4.6M

Homes that flooded again and again

Each house = 7 homes. ■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (78) ■ flooded 2+ times

of all homes
are insured

🏷️ 15% off flood insurance. Chesapeake is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7) for its flood-proofing work.

Insurance rates: the county.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

56flood-prone properties bought out and cleared

8homes raised above flood level

Disasters that hit Chesapeake

5 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into ChesapeakeDeclared for the county only

2016

Hurricane Matthew

655 households applied for aid $879K aid approved $1.3M to the City of Chesapeake for repairs

2011

Hurricane Irene

$2.4M to the City of Chesapeake for repairs

2009

Severe Storms and Flooding Associated With Tropical Depression Ida and a Nor'east

$567K to the City of Chesapeake for repairs

2003

Hurricane Isabel

5,076 households applied for aid $1.7M aid approved $14.9M to the City of Chesapeake for repairs

1999

Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations

$856K to the City of Chesapeake for repairs

the county has had 14 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often hurricanes and winter storms.

Around Chesapeake

Chesapeake and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Chesapeakemostly inland floodingModerate

Portsmouthmostly inland floodingLow

Suffolkmostly inland floodingLow

Norfolkmostly inland floodingLow

Virginia Beachmostly hurricanesVery 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. Chesapeake covers 61 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Chesapeake’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Chesapeake. 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 Chesapeake total about $56.2M 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.