Now that you know how vulnerable we are here in Hampton Roads and about our growing flood risks, you’re so smart to protect your family, home and business with flood insurance.

How much does flood insurance cost?

Whether you’re a homeowner or a renter, there are many factors that go into determining the cost of your flood insurance policy. Where you live is just one of them. We encourage you to use our Flood Insurance Estimator below to give you an idea of what your flood insurance may cost.

Flood Insurance Estimator

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GetFloodFluent.org

FLOOD INSURANCE ESTIMATOR

Learn what you need to protect your property with flood insurance.

Our intention is that you will have a sense of how much flood insurance costs as well as being more informed of why flood insurance costs what it does.

I agree to the Terms and Conditions.**

I agree with the Terms and Conditions.*

This calculator uses the information you provide to determine as close to an accurate insurance rate as we can. The purpose of this tool is to provide you with a sense of cost prior to contacting your insurance agent. Rates are based on FEMA's new pricing methodology, Risk Rating 2.0. Details about Risk Rating 2.0 can be found at fema.gov. This tool is not officially affiliated with FEMA nor any insurance company. Q

Why do we need to know your address?

FEMA calculates flood insurance premiums based on each property’s individual location and characteristics. For example, your address is used to calculate your property’s ground elevation and how far your property is from different sources of flooding such as rivers or the ocean. It also is used to factor in any Community Rating System discount you may be qualified for based on the county or city in which you live.

Why didn’t we ask you about your flood zone?

FEMA recently changed how it calculates flood insurance rates. With Risk Rating 2.0, rates are calculated based on individual properties’ unique characteristics, including geography. As a result, flood zones are no longer used in the calculation of rates. They are still used to determine whether or not someone must purchase a flood insurance policy in some cases and for the enforcement of local floodplain management requirements.

Have questions?

Learn more about each question here.

What is your address?

Start typing your address, then select the correct option from the list.

Note: The Flood Insurance Estimator relies on specific locations. It will only work for addresses in the following Virginia cities and counties: Chesapeake, Franklin, Gloucester County, Hampton, Isle of Wight County, James City County, Newport News, Norfolk, Poquoson, Portsmouth, Southampton County, Suffolk, Surry County, Virginia Beach, Williamsburg, and York County.

What is your address?*

Hidden

Address*

Tell us about your property.

FEMA assigns different rates based on what a property is used for (for example, residential vs. non-residential) and the type of construction (frame vs. masonry, single-family vs. multi-family).

What is this property used for?

Select from the list of options.

What is this property used for?*

Why do we need to know the number of floors or what floor your unit is on?

FEMA uses the total number of floors to help calculate rates for building coverage policies. The floor of a residential or non-residential unit is also used to calculate rates for individual units within a larger structure.

How many floors are there in this building? If you are in an apartment building or condo, what floor are you on?

Select from the list of options.

How many floors are there in this building? If you are in an apartment building or condo, what floor are you on?

Why do we need to know your structure type or the type of foundation you have?

The structural nature of your property plays a significant role in your premium. Structures with basements and enclosures have higher rates because those spaces are more likely to be damaged by flooding.

Why type of foundation is your building on?

Select from the options provided.

Why type of foundation is your building on?

Basement

Crawlspace

Slab

Elevated

with Enclosure, Not Post, Pile, or Pier

Elevated

with Enclosure, Post, Pile, or Pier

Elevated

without Enclosure, Post, Pile, or Pier

Why is the height of the first finished floor important?

The first-floor height of a structure related to the adjacent ground is one of the strongest indicators of flood exposure and risk. This is measured relative to the lowest adjacent grade. If you do not know the first-floor height of your building, we can use assumptions based on your building’s age and foundation to estimate it.

Do you know how high your first finished floor is above the ground?

Yes

Elevation (ft.)

Why do we need to know when your property was built?

Not all cities joined the National Flood Insurance Program at the same time. Different building requirements were used before and after communities joined the NFIP and adopted Flood Insurance Rate Maps, or FIRMs. Most “Pre-FIRM” buildings were constructed without taking flood insurance into account.

Was your building built prior to X?

Yes

What are flood vents and why are they important?

Flood vents are an important modification that building owners can install around their building’s foundation. These vents allow floodwaters to flow through a crawlspace or garage, which prevents the buildup of hydrostatic pressure. Without these vents, floodwaters can rise around a structure and damage or destroy walls and foundations.

Do you have flood vents?

Yes

Why does it matter if machinery and equipment are elevated?

Building machinery and equipment, such as a central air conditioner (including an exterior compressor), furnace, heat pump (including an exterior compressor), water heater, or elevator machinery and equipment, is susceptible to damage from floodwaters and expensive to repair or replace. Clothes washers and dryers as well as food freezers are similarly vulnerable. To count as elevated, all of the applicable machinery and equipment must be elevated to at least the elevation of the floor above the first floor. So, for example, with a slab-on-grade home, machinery and equipment would need to be at the height of the attic. For a home built on a crawlspace or basement, the machinery and equipment would need to be elevated to the height of the floor above the crawlspace or basement.

Is your machinery and equipment elevated above the first floor?

Yes

Why do we need to know the replacement cost of your building or contents?

Under Risk Rating 2.0, FEMA factors in replacement cost to rates because buildings with higher repair or replacement costs generally experience higher losses during a flood event.

What is the estimated replacement cost of your building?

Provide a value.

What is the estimated replacement cost of your building?

Why do your building and its contents have to be covered separately?

This is a personal choice. You can choose to have coverage for both building and contents, or just one of the two.

What is the estimated replacement cost of the contents of your building?

Provide a value.

What is the estimated replacement cost of the contents of your building?

Why does the deductible matter?

FEMA adjusts premiums based on the deductible the policyholder selects. A lower deductible will increase the premium, while a higher deductible will lower it.

What deductible would you like to have?

Select from the list of available options.

What deductible would you like to have?

Hidden

Deductible Option

Why do we need to know if this is your primary residence?

FEMA charges different rates and fees for primary residences as opposed to secondary residences or non-residential structures.

Is this a primary residence?

Yes or No

Is this a primary residence?

Yes

How reliable is this estimate?

This estimate is just that—an estimate. We do our best to provide as accurate a rate as possible, but there are variables that might ultimately increase or decrease your rate. These variables include misidentification of elevation, discounts, and substantial building improvements.

What if you can’t afford this rate?

Some states and cities have subsidized programs. Check with your insurance agent about potential programs in your area. There may be other actions you can take to help reduce your flood insurance premium, like installing flood vents or getting an elevation certificate to check the elevation of your property. Contact your local floodplain manager for more information.

What do you do now that you know your estimated rate?

The next step is to contact your preferred insurance agency. You can start with the same agency that you already use for your homeowners or renters insurance.

Your estimated annual flood insurance rate:

USD/Year

To see how you can lower your rate, change your building and contents coverage amounts below.

Building Coverage

Please enter a number from 0 to 250000.

Contents Coverage

Please enter a number from 0 to 100000.

Funding for this project was provided in part by a grant from the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation. Click here for more information on Virginia’s floodplain management program and to access the Virginia Flood Risk Information System.

Please note that in order to purchase a NFIP flood insurance policy your community must participate in the National Flood Insurance Program. For more information on whether or not your community participates and for information on how your community can join the program, please visit the Department of Conservation and Recreation’s website.

Check with the insurance company that may be issuing your policy for a specific quote.

Get the simple, indisputable facts about the growing chances for flooding, why you need flood insurance, and what your rate might be with our Flood Insurance Estimator.

Flooding Facts

Why Worry About Flooding?
Flood Risks
Protecting Your Property

What does flood insurance cost?

Flood Insurance Estimator

Flood Insurance Facts

About Flood Insurance
Coverage Details
Disaster Assistance
Who Needs Flood Insurance

GetFloodFluent.org

About GetFloodFluent.org
Campaign Resources
Contact Us
In The News

Get the simple, indisputable facts about the growing chances for flooding, why you need flood insurance, and what your rate might be with our Flood Insurance Estimator.

Flooding Facts

Why Worry About Flooding?
Flood Risks
Protecting Your Property

What does flood insurance cost?

Flood Insurance Estimator

Flood Insurance Facts

About Flood Insurance
Coverage Details
Disaster Assistance
Who Needs Flood Insurance

GetFloodFluent.org

About GetFloodFluent.org
Campaign Resources
Contact Us
In The News