Home › Virginia › Alexandria City

Alexandria City, Virginia

Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.

Relatively Low overall risk
12th of 133highest risk in Virginia
$40Mexpected losses a year
20federal declarations
1 in 42homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Alexandria City, Virginia has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 74% of US counties. It ranks 12th of 133 counties in Virginia. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, heat waves and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $40 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $251 per resident. Since 1972 it has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (15 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). About 1 in 42 homes here carry federal flood insurance (991 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $7.2 million on 404 claims here, including $2.9 million for floods in 2019.

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.

Top risks in Alexandria City

$26.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • Check the FEMA flood map for your address, and ask the seller or landlord about past flooding.
  • Price a flood policy now. Most new federal policies take 30 days to start.

Heat wave

Moderate
$3.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 6 times a year.
  • Check that cooling works before summer.
  • Know where the nearest cooling center is.
$2.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 8 times a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingModerate81.8
$26M
Heat waveModerate88.4
$3M
Strong windHigh90.1
$3M
HurricaneLow79.1
$2M
EarthquakeLow80.0
$2M
TornadoLow39.9
$1M
LightningModerate81.6
$961K
HailLow57.0
$424K
Coastal floodingLow56.0
$408K
Cold waveLow25.1
$404K
Winter weatherModerate79.8
$256K
Ice stormLow46.7
$91K
WildfireVery Low5.7
$2K
LandslideVery Low31.1
$418

Scores are percentiles: a score of 90 means higher risk than about 90% of US counties for that hazard. Hazards FEMA does not rate here are left out. Social vulnerability is very low and community resilience is relatively moderate in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

Federal declarations for natural events that included Alexandria City. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Snowstorm5
Hurricane5
Flood4
Severe Storm4
Freezing1
Winter Storm1

Most recent

Jan 23, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
Sep 11, 2018Hurricane FlorenceEmergency
Mar 7, 2016Severe Winter Storm and SnowstormMajor disaster
Oct 29, 2012Hurricane SandyEmergency
Nov 17, 2011The Remnants of Tropical Storm LeeMajor disaster
Sep 3, 2011Hurricane IreneMajor disaster
Apr 27, 2010Severe Winter Storms and SnowstormsMajor disaster
Feb 16, 2010Severe Winter Storm and SnowstormMajor disaster
Jul 13, 2006Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 12, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Show all 20
Sep 18, 2003Hurricane IsabelMajor disaster
Mar 27, 2003Severe Winter Storm, Record/Near Record Snowfall, Heavy Rain,Floodind, and MudslideMajor disaster
Feb 28, 2000Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Jan 13, 1996Blizzard of 96 (Severe Snow Storm)Major disaster
Mar 25, 1993Severe Winter StormEmergency
Nov 9, 1985Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 26, 1977Ice ConditionsMajor disaster
Oct 10, 1972Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 7, 1972Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 23, 1972Tropical Storm AgnesMajor disaster

Virginia also had 6 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1983

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 169 storm reports in Alexandria City since 1983 and about $11 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F0 tornado on September 24, 2001 near Alexandria.

2tornadoes
8hail reports, largest 1.25 inches
82damaging thunderstorm winds
61floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Sep 24, 2001F0Alexandria0 / 0
Oct 15, 2014EF0Belle Haven0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jul 29, 2023Thunderstorm WindAlexandria$10M
Jun 6, 2005LightningAlexandria$250K
Aug 7, 2000Thunderstorm WindAlexandria$100K
Jul 4, 2006Thunderstorm WindAlexandria$80K
Jun 20, 2015Flash FloodAlexandria$50K
Jul 2, 2006Thunderstorm WindAlexandria$40K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 11, 2026. Tornado records start in 1950, hail and wind in 1955, and floods and other storm types in 1996, so older decades undercount. Damage is in dollars of the year it happened and is often an estimate. Winter storms, heat and hurricanes are logged by forecast zone, not county, so they are not counted here.

Hurricanes and tropical storms

Hurricane risk by county ›

Since 1876, 2 hurricanes and 15 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Alexandria City, 7 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1878, with top winds near 95 mph about 64 miles away.

2hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
15tropical storms
2020most recent: Isaias

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 23, 1878UnnamedCategory 2, 95 mph64 mi
Oct 13, 1893UnnamedCategory 1, 75 mph55 mi
Jul 13, 1996BerthaTropical storm, 70 mph64 mi
Aug 23, 1933UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph54 mi
Sep 17, 1876UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph44 mi
Aug 4, 2020IsaiasTropical storm, 70 mph51 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 4, 2020IsaiasTropical storm, 70 mph51 mi
Sep 6, 2008HannaTropical storm, 50 mph61 mi
Jul 13, 1996BerthaTropical storm, 70 mph64 mi
Jun 3, 1963UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph64 mi
Aug 18, 1955DianeTropical storm, 45 mph62 mi
Aug 13, 1955ConnieTropical storm, 65 mph61 mi

Source: NOAA National Hurricane Center best-track records (HURDAT2), 1851 to 2025 for the Atlantic and 1949 to 2025 for the eastern Pacific. A storm counts if its track passed within 65 miles of the county's center while it was a tropical storm or hurricane. Strength is the storm's top sustained wind at that point, not the wind measured in the county. Older storms over the open sea were sometimes missed.

Flood insurance in Alexandria City

Check your address flood zone ›
2.4%of homes have federal flood insurance (991 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$7.2 millionpaid on 404 flood claims since 1978
2019costliest year, with $2.9 million paid

National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) records only; private flood policies are not included. Home counts as of Aug 3, 2026. Since 2021 NFIP prices each home separately under Risk Rating 2.0, so your price depends on the building, not the county. Ask an agent for a quote.

Homes in Alexandria City

$735,100median home value (Virginia $383,700, US $332,700)
1974median year homes were built (Virginia 1984, US 1980)
60%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
0.1%of homes are mobile homes, which are the least safe in tornadoes and high winds

Older homes and mobile homes usually suffer more damage in storms, floods and earthquakes, and can cost more to insure. If you are buying, ask about roof age, foundation bolting and any retrofits. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 5-year estimates; 80,844 housing units.

Compare in Virginia

All 133 ›
Largest countiesOverall riskTop hazard
Fairfax CountyHighInland flooding
Prince William CountyModerateInland flooding
Virginia Beach CityLowHurricane
Loudoun CountyLowInland flooding
Chesterfield CountyModerateInland flooding
Henrico CountyModerateInland flooding
Chesapeake CityLowInland flooding
Arlington CountyLowInland flooding

Neighboring counties

CountyOverall riskDeclarations
Fairfax CountyHigh17
Prince George's County, MDModerate17
District of Columbia, DCHigh18
Arlington CountyLow18

Cities in Alexandria City

Common questions about Alexandria City

What is the biggest natural hazard in Alexandria City?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Alexandria City, about $26.5 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Heat wave is second at $3.3 million.

How many federal disasters has Alexandria City had?

Alexandria City has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1972, including 15 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is Alexandria City a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 12th highest of 133 in Virginia. A county rating covers the whole area. Risk at one address can be much higher or lower, so check the FEMA flood map and ask about the home's history.

Do I need flood insurance in Alexandria City?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 42 homes in Alexandria City has federal flood insurance. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.

How many tornadoes has Alexandria City had?

NOAA records list 2 tornadoes in Alexandria City since 1950. The strongest was an F0 tornado on September 24, 2001 near Alexandria. The weather service has also logged 8 hail reports and 61 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Alexandria City?

NOAA's hurricane records show 2 hurricanes and 15 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Alexandria City. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1878, with winds near 95 mph.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025), OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, and NFIP policy and claims data. Hazard Compass is independent and not affiliated with FEMA. These figures describe the whole city, not a single property, and are not insurance or safety advice. Report a problem.