Colonial Heights City, Virginia
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Colonial Heights City, Virginia has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 94% of US counties. It ranks 119th of 133 counties in Virginia. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and hurricanes. FEMA estimates about $4.3 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $237 per resident. Since 1972 it has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (8 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). Only 44 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.2 million on 79 claims here, including $696,000 for floods in 1999.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Colonial Heights City
- 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.
- Pick a shelter spot: a basement, or an inside room on the lowest floor with no windows.
- Turn on emergency alerts on your phone and keep a weather radio.
- Know your evacuation zone and route before June 1.
- Ask about roof age, shutters and the separate wind or hurricane deductible on your home policy.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 19.6 | $3M | ||
| Tornado | 21.6 | $346K | ||
| Hurricane | 59.0 | $240K | ||
| Earthquake | 41.1 | $211K | ||
| Heat wave | 29.3 | $164K | ||
| Strong wind | 9.6 | $89K | ||
| Lightning | 13.5 | $60K | ||
| Coastal flooding | 43.0 | $42K | ||
| Ice storm | 28.5 | $37K | ||
| Winter weather | 23.0 | $27K | ||
| Hail | 5.2 | $17K | ||
| Cold wave | 3.4 | $2K | ||
| Wildfire | 1.7 | $856 | ||
| Landslide | 1.4 | $2 |
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 Colonial Heights City. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 13
Virginia also had 6 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1979
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 83 storm reports in Colonial Heights City since 1979, with 0 deaths and 21 injuries and about $3.5 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF1 tornado on April 28, 2008 near Colonial Hgts.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 28, 2008 | EF1 | Colonial Hgts | 21 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 28, 2008 | Tornado | Colonial Hgts | $2M |
| Sep 16, 1999 | Flash Flood | Colonial Hgts | $1M |
| Jun 29, 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | Colonial Hgts | $100K |
| Jun 13, 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | Colonial Hgts | $75K |
| Jul 13, 2025 | Flash Flood | Colonial Hgts | $50K |
| May 2, 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | Colonial Hgts | $25K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through May 26, 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 1859, 5 hurricanes and 22 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Colonial Heights City, 11 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1878, with top winds near 100 mph about 37 miles away.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 23, 1878 | Unnamed | Category 2, 100 mph | 37 mi |
| Oct 13, 1893 | Unnamed | Category 1, 85 mph | 60 mi |
| Sep 18, 2003 | Isabel | Category 1, 80 mph | 57 mi |
| Aug 23, 1933 | Unnamed | Category 1, 80 mph | 59 mi |
| Sep 17, 1876 | Unnamed | Category 1, 80 mph | 62 mi |
| Jul 13, 1996 | Bertha | Tropical storm, 70 mph | 61 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 23, 2023 | Ophelia | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 61 mi |
| Jul 9, 2021 | Elsa | Tropical storm, 55 mph | 57 mi |
| Aug 4, 2020 | Isaias | Tropical storm, 70 mph | 63 mi |
| Sep 6, 2008 | Hanna | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 61 mi |
| Aug 30, 2004 | Gaston | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 44 mi |
| Sep 18, 2003 | Isabel | Category 1, 80 mph | 57 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 Colonial Heights City
Check your address flood zone ›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 Colonial Heights City
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; 8,114 housing units.
Compare in Virginia
All 133 ›| Largest counties | Overall risk | Top hazard |
|---|---|---|
| Fairfax County | Inland flooding | |
| Prince William County | Inland flooding | |
| Virginia Beach City | Hurricane | |
| Loudoun County | Inland flooding | |
| Chesterfield County | Inland flooding | |
| Henrico County | Inland flooding | |
| Chesapeake City | Inland flooding | |
| Arlington County | Inland flooding |
Neighboring counties
| County | Overall risk | Declarations |
|---|---|---|
| Chesterfield County | 23 | |
| Petersburg City | 15 |
Common questions about Colonial Heights City
What is the biggest natural hazard in Colonial Heights City?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Colonial Heights City, about $3.1 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $346,013.
How many federal disasters has Colonial Heights City had?
Colonial Heights City has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1972, including 8 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.
Is Colonial Heights City a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 119th 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 Colonial Heights City?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 143 homes in Colonial Heights 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 Colonial Heights City had?
NOAA records list 1 tornadoes in Colonial Heights City since 1950. The strongest was an EF1 tornado on April 28, 2008 near Colonial Hgts. The weather service has also logged 11 hail reports and 20 floods here.
How many hurricanes have hit Colonial Heights City?
NOAA's hurricane records show 5 hurricanes and 22 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Colonial Heights City. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1878, with winds near 100 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.