ABOUT THE PROGRAM
BEHIND GETFLOODFLUENT.ORG
GetFloodFluent.org was designed to help residents better understand flood risks, dispel common myths, and take proactive steps to protect what matters most.
We encourage residents to purchase flood insurance to protect themselves as our flood risks continue to grow. This is not a plug from a particular company to sell flood insurance policies.
Program Management
GetFloodFluent.org is a regional outreach campaign created by the 17 communities that make up Hampton Roads and spearheaded by the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission.
Funding for this project was provided in part by a grant from the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation. Get more information on Virginia’s floodplain management program and to access the Virginia Flood Risk Information System.
Regional Spotlights
Leading the Way in Hampton Roads
Across Hampton Roads, communities are taking action to reduce flood risks, strengthen resilience, and prepare for the future. From new infrastructure to public awareness programs, here are just a few examples of how Hampton Roads is Getting Flood Fluent:
Gloucester County
In March 2025, Gloucester mailed its Flood Awareness Guide to all residents in recognition of Flood Awareness Week. The guide includes information on local flood risks, flood insurance, hurricane preparedness, and more to help residents stay informed and ready.
City of Hampton
Through its Resilient Hampton initiative, the city is embracing a “living with water” approach to address recurrent flooding and climate change. The program combines flood mitigation, smart engineering, planning, and community engagement to build a more resilient future. Hampton also partnered with the Green Infrastructure Center to create a Natural Infrastructure Resiliency Plan, which identifies and prioritizes the city’s natural resources and outlines opportunities to protect and restore these assets.
James City County
The County’s Flood Mitigation Pilot Program, launched in 2018, provides financial and technical support to owners of repetitive loss properties. The program helps with elevation certificates, wet floodproofing, and reimburses a portion of eligible construction costs, supporting residents in reducing flood risk.
City of Newport News
Newport News is conducting a multi-year Stormwater Master Planning effort to evaluate current and future flood impacts and develop long-term solutions. With $4.9 million in grant funding from the Community Flood Preparedness Fund, the city is tackling flooding challenges head-on. Newport News also offers a Flood Assistance Program, which acquires, relocates, or elevates homes in the floodplain that are especially vulnerable to flooding due to their age and elevation.
City of Norfolk
In partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Resilient Norfolk: Coastal Storm Risk Management Project includes structural, nature-based, and property-specific measures to reduce damage from coastal storms and hurricanes. The city also led the Ohio Creek Watershed Project, funded by a $112 million HUD grant. This transformative project features floodwalls, living shorelines, stormwater infrastructure, and new community spaces like parks and trails—all designed with significant community input.
City of Portsmouth
Portsmouth’s Flood Resilience Strategy (PFRS) is the city’s first long-term, equity-centered flood plan. It provides a framework to prepare for and adapt to flooding caused by storm surge, tidal events, high tides, and heavy rainfall using a data-driven and community-focused approach.
City of Virginia Beach
In 2021, residents overwhelmingly supported a Flood Protection Program that funds key resilience projects such as drainage improvements, pump stations, and flood barriers. The city’s Sea Level Wise Adaptation Strategy, published in 2020, outlines a proactive plan to adapt to rising seas and manage flood risk. Virginia Beach is also updating its Stormwater Master Plan for the first time since the early 1990s, using enhanced modeling to guide future infrastructure investments.
Learn More
Explore your locality’s programs and connect with local stormwater and floodplain management departments to see how you can take action.
Chesapeake
Franklin/Southampton County
Gloucester County
Hampton
James City County
Newport News
Norfolk
Poquoson
Portsmouth
Smithfield/Isle of Wight County
Suffolk
Virginia Beach
Williamsburg
York County
Get started protecting yourself!
Use FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program Quoting Tool to get an estimate of your flood insurance cost.
