Natural hazards · Hampton

Hampton, VA natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Hampton comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is very low for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 4,715 claims here since 1978. 6 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Hampton?

Very low

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Hampton to be higher than in 18% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and hurricanes.

Inland flooding44%Hurricanes18%Coastal flooding10%Tornadoes7%Heat waves6%Cold waves6%Everything else10%

By hazard

What Hampton faces

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

Inland flooding

44% of expected damage

Well below average · higher than 14% of U.S. places

Recorded about once a year in the area

Hurricanes

18% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 83% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 4 years in the area

Coastal flooding

10% of expected damage

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

Tornadoes

7% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 38% of U.S. places

Heat waves

6% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 50% of U.S. places

Recorded about 6 times a year in the area

Cold waves

6% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 69% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 2 years in the area

Lower here

HailIce stormsWinter weatherWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesStrong windLightning

Not a risk here

DroughtAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic 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 Hampton flood?

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

4,715paid claims since 1978

$74.9Mpaid to owners

915homes flooded more than once

19782026

Biggest named events

Hurricane Isabel: 1,968 claims, $33.9M
November 2009 Nor'easter: 1,059 claims, $19.8M
Hurricane Irene: 329 claims, $4.2M

Homes that flooded again and again

Each house = 16 homes. ■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (111) ■ flooded 2+ times

of all homes
are insured

🏷️ 15% off flood insurance. Hampton 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

117homes raised above flood level

3flood-prone properties bought out and cleared

Disasters that hit Hampton

6 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into HamptonDeclared for the county only

2018

Hurricane Florence

$237K to the City of Hampton for repairs

2016

Hurricane Matthew

219 households applied for aid $282K aid approved $463K to the City of Hampton for repairs

2011

Hurricane Irene

$836K to the City of Hampton for repairs

2009

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

$474K to the City of Hampton for repairs

2003

Hurricane Isabel

7,516 households applied for aid $5.4M aid approved $16.8M to the City of Hampton for repairs

1999

Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations

$106K to the City of Hampton for repairs

the county has had 16 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often hurricanes and winter storms.

Around Hampton

Hampton and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Poquosonmostly inland floodingHigh

Bethel Manormostly inland floodingModerate

Portsmouthmostly inland floodingLow

Norfolkmostly inland floodingLow

Hamptonmostly inland floodingVery low

Newport Newsmostly 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. Hampton covers 36 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Hampton’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Hampton. 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 Hampton total about $23.4M 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.