Natural hazards · Norfolk

Norfolk, VA natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Norfolk comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is low for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 4,748 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 Norfolk?

Low

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Norfolk to be higher than in 22% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and hurricanes.

Inland flooding37%Hurricanes30%Tornadoes7%Coastal flooding7%Heat waves6%Everything else15%

By hazard

What Norfolk faces

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

Inland flooding

37% of expected damage

Well below average · higher than 8% of U.S. places

Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Hurricanes

30% of expected damage

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

Recorded about once every 4 years in the area

Tornadoes

7% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 47% of U.S. places

Coastal flooding

7% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 97% 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

Lower here

HailIce stormsWinter weatherCold wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesStrong 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 Norfolk flood?

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

4,748paid claims since 1978

$68.7Mpaid to owners

980homes flooded more than once

19782026

Biggest named events

November 2009 Nor'easter: 1,267 claims, $23.1M
Hurricane Isabel: 1,108 claims, $16.1M
Hurricane Irene: 678 claims, $11.6M

Homes that flooded again and again

Each house = 17 homes. ■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (127) ■ flooded 2+ times

of all homes
are insured

🏷️ 25% off flood insurance. Norfolk is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 5) for its flood-proofing work.

Insurance rates: the county.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

138homes raised above flood level

5flood-prone properties bought out and cleared

1buildings floodproofed

Disasters that hit Norfolk

5 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into NorfolkDeclared for the county only

2016

Hurricane Matthew

665 households applied for aid $688K aid approved $3.4M to the City of Norfolk for repairs

2011

Hurricane Irene

$2.5M to the City of Norfolk for repairs

2009

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

$2.3M to the City of Norfolk for repairs

2003

Hurricane Isabel

5,334 households applied for aid $3.5M aid approved $18.7M to the City of Norfolk for repairs

1999

Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations

$667K to the City of Norfolk for repairs

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

Around Norfolk

Norfolk and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Chesapeakemostly inland floodingModerate

Portsmouthmostly inland floodingLow

Norfolkmostly inland floodingLow

Hamptonmostly inland floodingVery low

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. Norfolk covers 80 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Norfolk’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Norfolk. 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 Norfolk total about $45.7M 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.