Suffolk, Virginia Flood Zones
Suffolk is a growing Hampton Roads city with significant SFHA coverage along the Nansemond River and Great Dismal Swamp drainage. Tidal flooding and storm surge from the Chesapeake Bay increasingly threaten the city's expanding suburban development.
FEMA Flood Risk Profile: Suffolk 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 LowEst. annual loss: $8.9M
Coastal Flood Risk
Relatively ModerateEst. annual loss: $707K
Hurricane Risk
Relatively ModerateEst. annual loss: $6.7M
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county-level assessment. Individual property risk may vary.
Federal Flood Disaster History: Suffolk County
Suffolk County has been included in 12 federal flood-related disaster declarations.
...and 4 earlier declarations since 1972.
These declarations affected communities across Suffolk County, including Suffolk.
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries API. Data sourced February 2026.
NFIP Flood Insurance Claims: Suffolk County
Properties in Suffolk County have filed 234 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $5.2M in payouts since 1978. The average claim payout is $22K.
Highest-Claim Years
2016
47 claims - $2.3M
2003
33 claims - $595K
1999
32 claims - $454K
Claims by Flood Zone
Zone X
112
Zone AE
69
Zone A
32
Zone V
5
Zone VE
3
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Claims API. Data sourced February 2026.
Common Flood Zones in Suffolk
Properties in Suffolk, VA are commonly designated in these FEMA flood zones:
What Your Flood Zone Means in Suffolk
Suffolk faces a combination of coastal and inland flood risks. Storm surge from hurricanes and tropical storms pushes seawater inland, while heavy rainfall simultaneously overwhelms rivers, bayous, and drainage infrastructure. This dual threat means flooding can come from multiple directions at once. The most common FEMA flood zone designations in Suffolk are Zone AE, Zone X. FEMA's National Risk Index estimates the county's annual expected loss from inland flooding at over $8.9M.
Combined coastal and inland flood exposure in Suffolk means properties may face higher premiums than areas with only one flood source. FEMA's Risk Rating 2.0 accounts for multiple flood sources, including coastal surge distance, river proximity, and rainfall-driven flooding. 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 maps in areas with combined coastal and inland risk are among the most complex in the FEMA system. Major storms often trigger FEMA restudies that can significantly shift zone boundaries. Letters of Map Revision (LOMR) after hurricanes may expand SFHA coverage as new storm data is incorporated. Use our free lookup tool to check the current flood zone for any Suffolk address.
Check Your Suffolk Address
Enter any Suffolk, VA address to instantly see its FEMA flood zone, risk level, and whether flood insurance is required.
Free Flood Zone LookupSuffolk, VA Flood Zone FAQ
What flood zones are in Suffolk, VA?
The most common FEMA flood zones in Suffolk 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 Suffolk?
If your Suffolk 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 25% of all NFIP flood claims come from Zone X properties.
How do I check my flood zone in Suffolk?
Enter your Suffolk 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.
What type of flooding affects Suffolk?
Suffolk is primarily affected by both coastal storm surge and inland flooding. The most common FEMA flood zone designations are Zone AE, Zone X. Use the free lookup tool above to check the specific flood zone for any Suffolk address.
Has Suffolk experienced major flooding events?
Suffolk County, where Suffolk is located, has been part of 12 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 Suffolk?
Suffolk County has recorded 234 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $5.2M in payouts since 1978. The year with the most claims was 2016, with 47 claims and $2.3M in payouts. These figures cover all NFIP claims in the county, including Suffolk.
Sources
This page summarizes information from FEMA and other official resources in plain language. For full technical details, see the links below.
- FEMA National Flood Hazard LayerDirect Source
The NFHL is the source of all flood zone data shown on this page.
- FEMA Map Service Center — Search by AddressDirect Source
Look up any address to view FIRM panels, FIS reports, and LOMCs.
- NFHL Data and Map StatusTopic Page
View NFHL coverage and data freshness by state and community.
- FEMA National Risk Index — Data ResourcesDirect Source
County-level risk scores for inland flooding, coastal flooding, and hurricane used in the Flood Risk Profile.
- OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries API v2Direct Source
Federal disaster declarations filtered for flood-related incident types (Flood, Hurricane, Severe Storm, Coastal Storm).
- OpenFEMA FIMA NFIP Claims API v2Direct Source
Historical NFIP flood insurance claims since 1978, aggregated by county and state. Includes claim counts, payouts, and flood zone breakdowns.
Sources last verified: February 2026