Natural hazards · Williamsburg

Williamsburg, VA natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Williamsburg comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is very low for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 13 claims here since 1979. 4 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Williamsburg?

Very low

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Williamsburg to be higher than in 10% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and hurricanes.

Inland flooding42%Hurricanes19%Tornadoes10%Strong wind9%Earthquakes7%Everything else14%

By hazard

What Williamsburg faces

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

Inland flooding

42% of expected damage

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

Recorded about once every 7 years in the area

Hurricanes

19% of expected damage

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

Recorded about once every 4 years in the area

Tornadoes

10% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 52% of U.S. places

Strong wind

9% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 61% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 2 years in the area

Earthquakes

7% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 58% of U.S. places

Lower here

Coastal floodingHailIce stormsWinter weatherCold wavesHeat wavesWildfireLandslidesLightning

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 Williamsburg flood?

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

13paid claims since 1979

$119Kpaid to owners

3homes flooded more than once

19792026

Biggest named events

Hurricane Isabel: 2 claims, $18K
Hurricane Floyd: 1 claim, $13K

Homes that flooded again and again

■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (0) ■ flooded 2+ times

of all homes
are insured

No community discount. Williamsburg 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.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

1homes raised above flood level

Disasters that hit Williamsburg

4 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into WilliamsburgDeclared for the county only

2011

Hurricane Irene

$222K to the City of Williamsburg for repairs

2003

Hurricane Isabel

1,930 households applied for aid $729K aid approved $1.1M to the City of Williamsburg for repairs

2000

Severe Winter Storms

$15K to the City of Williamsburg for repairs

1999

Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations

$55K to the City of Williamsburg for repairs

the county has had 12 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often hurricanes and winter storms.

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. Williamsburg covers 3 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Williamsburg’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Williamsburg. 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 Williamsburg total about $3.6M 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.