FEMA rates relative coastal flooding risk for the City of Portsmouth as relatively moderate and reports FEMA annualized frequency of 3.647 per year for the area.
FEMA summary
FEMA's profile for the City of Portsmouth reports FEMA annualized frequency of 3.647 per year for coastal flooding. FEMA's relative risk rating for the area is relatively moderate; the annualized frequency is a separate measure.
Hazard metrics cover FEMA county-equivalent geographies rather than individual addresses or parcels. Use local or state hazard maps before making a property, insurance, retrofit, or evacuation decision.
Select a hazard to inspect FEMA's figures for City of Portsmouth.
Coastal Flooding
FEMA combines its area-wide loss estimate and community data in this relative rating. Event frequency appears separately below.
Relative FEMA score
92.0/100
Occurrence thresholds vary by hazard. The FEMA methodology defines the value for each hazard.
The area loss estimate combines FEMA's modeled losses to buildings, population, and agriculture across City of Portsmouth. It is not an estimate for a home or address.
City risk summary
For Portsmouth, FEMA rates coastal flooding risk for the City of Portsmouth as relatively moderate, with a relative score of 92.0/100. The next highest relative scores are hurricane at 89.5/100 and ice storm at 79.8/100.
Using FEMA data for the City of Portsmouth, Portsmouth is #2 among 16 covered Virginia entries for coastal flooding risk. Norfolk is about 6.2 straight-line miles from the Portsmouth map point; its FEMA figures cover the City of Norfolk.
For homeowners and movers
Preparedness actions
Living in Portsmouth? Learn how to handle water storage, sanitation, and security in a small space.
The map shows Portsmouth. All FEMA figures on this page cover the City of Portsmouth.
The FEMA figures cover the City of Portsmouth. Address-level conditions require local maps, building records, and property details.
FEMA rates relative coastal flooding risk for the City of Portsmouth as relatively moderate. Its FEMA annualized frequency is 3.647 per year. Damage at a specific address also depends on the building, soil, elevation, and exact hazard zone.
Among 16 Virginia cities covered by this directory, Portsmouth is #2 for relative coastal flooding risk based on FEMA's score for the City of Portsmouth. Homes within Portsmouth can have different soil, elevation, construction, and hazard-zone conditions.
In FEMA's data for the City of Portsmouth, the highest relative ratings are Coastal Flooding (Relatively Moderate), Hurricane (Relatively Moderate), and Ice Storm (Relatively Moderate). FEMA uses estimated losses and community data along with event frequency when assigning these ratings.
The hazard numbers cover the City of Portsmouth. For an individual home, check local fault, flood, fire, evacuation, and building records for the exact address.
FEMA gives the City of Portsmouth an overall relative risk rating of relatively moderate. Conditions at a specific home depend on its hazard zones, building type, maintenance, insurance, and access to evacuation routes and emergency services.
Start with this step: Confirm the exact hazard using official local maps before making property or insurance decisions. Know how local officials issue warnings and evacuation instructions. Use Ready.gov Be Informed and local emergency guidance for a complete plan.
Distances are measured between city coordinates.
| City | Distance | Coastal Flooding rating | Relative score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Norfolk, VA | 6 mi | Relatively Moderate | 90.5 |
| Chesapeake, VA | 12 mi | Relatively Low | 69.8 |
| Hampton, VA | 14 mi | Relatively Moderate | 94.2 |
| Virginia Beach, VA | 19 mi | Relatively Moderate | 91.3 |
| Suffolk, VA | 19 mi | Relatively Low | 67.2 |
Limited to products tagged for coastal flooding or general preparedness.
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View productHazard metrics come from FEMA National Risk Index v1.19.0 (March 2023). City population and coordinates come from SimpleMaps US Cities Database. For current conditions, use official local maps, warnings, inspections, and professional advice.