Natural hazards · Radford

Radford, VA natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Radford comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is very low for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 4 claims here since 1985. 3 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Radford?

Very low

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Radford to be higher than in 13% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and cold waves.

Inland flooding62%Cold waves15%Earthquakes9%Strong wind7%Everything else7%

By hazard

What Radford faces

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

Inland flooding

62% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 33% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 3 years in the area

Cold waves

15% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 78% of U.S. places

Recorded about 4 times a year in the area

Earthquakes

9% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 65% of U.S. places

Strong wind

7% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 71% of U.S. places

Recorded about 3 times a year in the area

Lower here

HurricanesTornadoesHailIce stormsWinter weatherWildfireLandslidesLightning

Not a risk here

Coastal floodingHeat wavesDroughtAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic 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 Radford flood?

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

4paid claims since 1985

$482Kpaid to owners

0homes flooded more than once

19852026

Biggest named events

Hurricane Helene: 3 claims, $461K

of all homes
are insured

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

Insurance rates: the county.

Disasters that hit Radford

3 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into RadfordDeclared for the county only

2024

Tropical Storm Helene

79 households applied for aid $22K aid approved $158K to the City of Radford for repairs

2012

Severe Storms and Straight-Line Winds

$87K to the City of Radford for repairs

2009

Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm

$43K to the City of Radford for repairs

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

Around Radford

Radford and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Plum Creekmostly inland floodingLow

Radfordmostly inland floodingVery low

Fairlawnmostly 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. Radford covers 4 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Radford’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Radford. 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 Radford total about $2.6M 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.