Natural hazards · Roanoke

Roanoke, VA natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Roanoke comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is low for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 929 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 Roanoke?

Low

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Roanoke to be higher than in 27% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding.

Inland flooding77%Strong wind6%Everything else17%

By hazard

What Roanoke faces

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

Inland flooding

77% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 53% of U.S. places

Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Strong wind

6% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 75% of U.S. places

Recorded about 3 times a year in the area

Lower here

HurricanesTornadoesHailIce stormsWinter weatherCold wavesHeat wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesLightningAvalanches

Not a risk here

Coastal floodingDroughtTsunamisVolcanic 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 Roanoke flood?

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

929paid claims since 1978

$20.8Mpaid to owners

91homes flooded more than once

19782026

Biggest named events

Tropical Storm Ivan: 94 claims, $3.4M
Hurricane Michael: 18 claims, $339K
Hurricane Fran: 15 claims, $59K

Homes that flooded again and again

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

of all homes
are insured

🏷️ 20% off flood insurance. Roanoke is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 6) for its flood-proofing work.

Insurance rates: the county.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

96flood-prone properties bought out and cleared

Disasters that hit Roanoke

5 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into RoanokeDeclared for the county only

2024

Tropical Storm Helene

9 households applied for aid $132K to the City of Roanoke for repairs

2012

Severe Storms and Straight-Line Winds

$543K to the City of Roanoke for repairs

2009

Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm

$238K to the City of Roanoke for repairs

2004

Severe Storms and Flooding From the Remanants of Hurricane Jeanne

270 households applied for aid $587K aid approved

2003

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

62 households applied for aid $51K aid approved $102K to the City of Roanoke for repairs

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

Around Roanoke

Roanoke and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Salemmostly inland floodingModerate

Hollinsmostly inland floodingLow

Roanokemostly inland floodingLow

Vintonmostly inland floodingVery low

Cave Springmostly 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. Roanoke covers 25 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Roanoke’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Roanoke. 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 Roanoke total about $24.5M 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.