Alexandria, VA Flood Zone Map
Last updated: August 2026
Alexandria faces tidal flooding from the Potomac River that is increasing in frequency due to sea level rise. The historic Old Town waterfront floods regularly during high tide and storm events.
Alexandria County has recorded 404 NFIP flood insurance claims since 1978, totaling $7.2M in payouts. Explore the full NFIP claims data by state and county to see how this area compares nationally.
FEMA Region
Region 3
NFIP Policies
2,102
Alexandria County
Avg. Premium
$886/yr
Alexandria County
NFIP Flood Insurance Claims: Alexandria County
Properties in Alexandria County have filed 404 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $7.2M in payouts since 1978. The average claim payout is $18K.
Highest-Claim Years
2019
81 claims - $2.9M
2020
65 claims - $872K
2003
53 claims - $1.6M
Claims by Flood Zone
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Claims API. Data sourced August 2026. See national claims data.
Flood Insurance Coverage: Alexandria County
Only roughly 1 in 30 households in Alexandria County carries NFIP flood insurance (3% of estimated households). With 64 recorded flood events and $98K in damage, most flood losses in this county are likely uninsured.
Penetration Rate
3%
roughly 1 in 30 households
Historical Claims Ratio
1 in 5
404 claims over 45+ years across 2,102 current policies
Avg. Claim Payout
$17,809
Per claim, county-wide since 1978
Historically, Alexandria County has averaged 1 claim for every 5 active policies (since 1978). This compares cumulative claims against today's policy count and does not predict future claim likelihood.
Coverage data: NFIP policies as of August 2026, claims since 1978 (August 2026), population from FEMA NRI. All figures are county-wide and include Alexandria.
Not sure whether you're required to carry it? See do I need flood insurance?, or compare NFIP vs. private flood insurance.
Repetitive Loss Properties: Alexandria County
Alexandria County has 39 properties with multiple flood insurance losses, including 4 severe repetitive loss properties. 1 properties have received FEMA mitigation funding. Severe repetitive loss is a subset of multiple loss, not a separate count. Data sourced August 2026.
Multiple Loss
39
2+ claims within 10 years
Severe Repetitive Loss
4
4+ claims or 2 exceeding value
Mitigated
1
Received FEMA mitigation
By Flood Zone
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Multiple Loss Properties. Data sourced August 2026.
Flood Insurance Discount: Alexandria
Alexandria participates in FEMA's Community Rating System (CRS), a voluntary program that rewards communities for flood mitigation efforts beyond minimum NFIP requirements. Residents in the Special Flood Hazard Area may qualify for reduced flood insurance premiums.
CRS Class
Class 6
SFHA Premium Discount
20% off
CRS classes range from 1 (best) to 10 (no discount). Alexandria's Class 6 rating means NFIP policyholders in the SFHA can receive up to a 20% discount on their flood insurance premiums. Properties outside the SFHA may receive a 10% discount.
Source: FEMA Community Rating System, April 2026. Discounts apply to NFIP policies only.
Federal Flood Disaster History: Alexandria County
Alexandria County has been included in 9 federal flood-related disaster declarations.
...and 1 earlier declaration since 1972.
These declarations affected communities across Alexandria County, including Alexandria.
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries API. Data sourced August 2026.
Recorded Flood Events: Alexandria (c) County
NOAA has recorded 64 flood events in Alexandria (c) County since 1996, causing $98K in damage.
Costliest Events
Events by Type
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, 1996-2026. Data sourced August 2026.
Levee Protection: Alexandria
The USACE National Levee Database lists 3 levee systems protecting parts of Alexandria. A system's FEMA accreditation status determines how its protected area is mapped: accredited levees are typically mapped as Zone X, while non-accredited or provisionally accredited systems generally leave their protected area in the Special Flood Hazard Area (often Zone AR or A99) until certification is complete.
Alexandria East
Non-AccreditedProtects against: Four Mile Run - Sponsor: City of Alexandria, VA - 0.07 sq mi protected
Arlington West
Non-AccreditedProtects against: Four Mile Run - Sponsor: Arlington County, VA - 0.06 sq mi protected
Alexandria West
Non-AccreditedProtects against: Four Mile Run - Sponsor: City of Alexandria, VA - 0 sq mi protected
Source: USACE National Levee Database. Data sourced August 2026. Learn how levees affect flood zone mapping.
FEMA Flood Risk Profile: Alexandria County
Based on FEMA's National Risk Index, which evaluates flood risk at the county level using historical loss data, exposure, and vulnerability.
Inland Flood Risk
Relatively ModerateEst. annual loss: $26.5M
Coastal Flood Risk
Relatively LowEst. annual loss: $408K
Hurricane Risk
Relatively LowEst. annual loss: $2.1M
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county-level assessment. Individual property risk may vary.
What Your Flood Zone Means in Alexandria
Alexandria faces multiple inland flood threats, including riverine flooding from nearby waterways and flash flooding from intense rainfall overwhelming urban drainage systems. Properties near river corridors face the highest risk, but stormwater backup can affect neighborhoods well outside the mapped floodplain. The most common FEMA flood zone designations in Alexandria are Zone AE, Zone X. FEMA's National Risk Index estimates the county's annual expected loss from inland flooding at over $26.5M.
With both riverine and urban stormwater flood risk, insurance costs in Alexandria depend heavily on a property's elevation relative to nearby waterways and the local drainage infrastructure. FEMA's Risk Rating 2.0 prices in multiple inland flood sources rather than relying on the flood zone line alone. If your property is in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) and you have a federally regulated or government-backed mortgage, federal law generally requires your lender to ensure you carry flood insurance.
Flood zone boundaries in Alexandria can shift when FEMA updates its Flood Insurance Studies or when upstream development changes how water moves through the watershed. New stormwater infrastructure or dam modifications can also trigger map revisions. Use our free lookup tool to check the current flood zone for any Alexandria address.
Alexandria, VA Flood Zone FAQ
What flood zones are in Alexandria, VA?
The most common FEMA flood zones in Alexandria are Zone AE, Zone X. Properties in these high-risk zones (SFHA) may require flood insurance with a federally regulated or government-backed mortgage.
Is flood insurance required in Alexandria?
If your Alexandria property is in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) and you have a federally regulated or government-backed mortgage, federal law generally requires your lender to ensure you carry flood insurance. Properties in Zone X are not federally required to carry flood insurance, though coverage is still recommended since about a quarter of all NFIP flood claims come from properties outside high-risk zones.
How do I check my flood zone in Alexandria?
Enter your Alexandria address in the search tool above for an instant flood zone determination. Results include your FEMA flood zone, SFHA status, base flood elevation (if available), and FIRM panel information, pulled directly from FEMA's National Flood Hazard Layer.
Does Alexandria offer flood insurance discounts?
Yes. Alexandria participates in FEMA's Community Rating System (CRS) with a Class 6 rating, qualifying residents in the Special Flood Hazard Area for up to a 20% discount on NFIP flood insurance premiums. Properties outside the SFHA may receive a 10% discount.
Has Alexandria experienced major flooding events?
Alexandria County, where Alexandria is located, has been part of 9 federal disaster declarations for flooding, hurricanes, or severe storms. The most recent was Hurricane Florence in 2018. Federal disaster declarations are issued when flooding overwhelms local resources and triggers FEMA assistance programs.
How many flood insurance claims have been filed in Alexandria?
Alexandria County has recorded 404 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $7.2M in payouts since 1978. The year with the most claims was 2019, with 81 claims and $2.9M in payouts. These figures cover all NFIP claims in the county, including Alexandria.
How many flood insurance policies are there in Alexandria?
Alexandria County had 2,102 NFIP flood insurance policies written or renewed over the trailing 13 months, with an average annual premium of $886. The most policies are in Zone X (1,076 policies). These are county-level counts of policies written or renewed in the trailing 13 months, not a point-in-time count of policies in force - a policy renewed inside that window is counted twice.
How many Alexandria properties have flooded repeatedly?
Alexandria County has 39 properties with multiple flood losses on record, including 4 severe repetitive loss properties. These are properties that have experienced four or more NFIP claims of $5,000+ or two claims exceeding the building value.
Is Alexandria protected by a levee?
Yes. The USACE National Levee Database lists 3 levee systems protecting parts of Alexandria. None currently carry full FEMA accreditation, which typically keeps the protected area within the Special Flood Hazard Area (often Zone AR or A99) until the levee is certified. Levee protection is system-specific, not city-wide - check the address search above for the zone at a specific property.
Can my Alexandria property be removed from a high-risk flood zone?
Yes, if your property's natural ground elevation is above the Base Flood Elevation and FEMA inadvertently mapped it in a high-risk zone, you can apply for a Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA). A successful LOMA removes the property from the Special Flood Hazard Area, generally eliminating the federal mandatory flood insurance requirement. You will need an elevation certificate from a licensed surveyor. If a property was raised above the BFE with fill material, the process is a LOMR-F rather than a LOMA.
What is Base Flood Elevation in Alexandria?
Base Flood Elevation (BFE) is the predicted height of floodwaters during a 1% annual chance (100-year) flood, shown on FEMA maps as an elevation number in feet above sea level. In Alexandria's Zone AE areas, BFE lines appear on the FIRM as wavy contours labeled with elevation values. Properties with a lowest floor at or above the BFE typically qualify for significantly lower NFIP flood insurance premiums.
Other Virginia Cities
Understanding Flood Zones
See the Flood Map for Any Alexandria, VA Address
Enter a Alexandria, VA address to view its FEMA flood map, zone designation, SFHA status, and insurance requirements.
Disclaimer: Flood risk data on this page is sourced from FEMA datasets including the National Risk Index, NFIP claims and policy records, disaster declarations, and the Community Rating System. These datasets were last extracted on August 2026 and may not reflect the most recent changes. Always verify current flood zone status through FEMA or a licensed determination provider before making property, insurance, or lending decisions.