Does Back River flood?
Back River, Hampton, VA · ZIP code 23669: the ZIP code on 95 of the 95 flood insurance claims counted here. ZIP codes do not follow neighborhood lines.
Yes. Insured properties in and around Back River have filed flood claims. About 48% of Back River’s mapped area is inside FEMA’s Special Flood Hazard Area; the rest is in moderate or minimal-hazard Zone X. NFIP flood insurance records list 95 claims from the Census block groups that cover Back River, from 1978 through 2021. 70 of them received a payment, totaling $1,070,499 (not adjusted for inflation). The busiest years were 2003 (49 claims), 2009 (14 claims), 1999 (10 claims).
What this page counts as Back River
We could not find an openly licensed official boundary for Back River, so this page uses a census-based area. For this page, Back River means the 2010 Census block groups whose center lies within 1.6 km (1.0 miles) of the U.S. Geological Survey (GNIS) map point for Back River (feature 1495216) and inside the Hampton city limits (U.S. Census Bureau), each block group going to the nearest of the places we cover. Every number below is for exactly those block groups (listed in “How these numbers were made”), so the edges are approximate and may include or leave out a few blocks people would call Back River. Sources: U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb, 2010 Census Block Groups and U.S. Geological Survey, Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) domestic names.
Past claims do not predict future flooding, and a neighborhood figure cannot tell you about one building. Look up the exact address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center and get flood insurance quotes before you sign a lease or a contract.
Check a specific address in Back River
Neighborhood figures are averages. Our address check looks up the FEMA flood zone at one address, from the same public maps: check if your address is in a flood zone.
Flood zones street by street in Back River
The named streets in Back River, longest first, with how much of each street’s length inside Back River lies in FEMA’s high-risk flood zones (the Special Flood Hazard Area, zones A and V). Length is the part inside Back River; the main zone is the FEMA zone covering most of that length. A street can cross several zones, so the zone at one address can differ from the street’s main zone: check the address above for that. 37 shorter streets are not listed.
| Street | Length | In high-risk zones | Main zone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Little Back River Rd | 2.0 mi | 16% | X (unshaded, minimal) (46%) |
| Clemwood Pkwy | 1.6 mi | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (58%) |
| N King St | 1.5 mi | 49% | AE (44%) |
| Willow Oaks Blvd | 1.4 mi | 23% | X (unshaded, minimal) (48%) |
| Apollo Dr | 1.2 mi | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Rockwell Rd | 5,010 ft | 79% | AE (46%) |
| Fox Hill Rd | 4,920 ft | 4.3% | X (unshaded, minimal) (87%) |
| Wilderness Rd | 4,320 ft | 36% | X (shaded, 0.2% annual chance) (64%) |
| Harris Creek Rd | 4,210 ft | 44% | AE (44%) |
| Walnut St | 3,760 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (96%) |
| Valirey Dr | 3,050 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (53%) |
| Madrid Dr | 3,030 ft | 0.0% | X (shaded, 0.2% annual chance) (51%) |
| Chickamauga Pike | 2,840 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Beauregard Hts | 2,640 ft | 43% | X (shaded, 0.2% annual chance) (57%) |
| Oakville Rd | 2,570 ft | 90% | AE (90%) |
| Long Bridge Rd | 2,410 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Margaret Dr | 2,360 ft | 0.0% | X (shaded, 0.2% annual chance) (69%) |
| Old Meribeth Rd | 2,280 ft | 84% | AE (84%) |
| Missionary Rdg | 2,140 ft | 0.0% | X (shaded, 0.2% annual chance) (76%) |
| Beverly St | 1,960 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (60%) |
| Shelby Ave | 1,870 ft | 100% | AE (100%) |
| Michele Dr | 1,850 ft | 98% | AE (98%) |
| Glenwood Rd | 1,720 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (82%) |
| Deaton Dr | 1,580 ft | 0.0% | X (shaded, 0.2% annual chance) (100%) |
| Clover St | 1,520 ft | 22% | X (shaded, 0.2% annual chance) (39%) |
Streets: U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb, Transportation (primary, secondary and local roads). Flood zones: FEMA National Flood Hazard Layer (NFHL), Flood Hazard Zones and FIRM Panels, retrieved November 7, 2026. Each street is clipped to the area boundary and measured in an equal-area projection. Street lengths are rounded.
Flood zones in Back River
Share of Back River’s mapped area (about 5.342 km²) in each FEMA flood zone, from FEMA National Flood Hazard Layer (NFHL), Flood Hazard Zones and FIRM Panels. Mapped base flood elevations inside the neighborhood range from 7 to 11 feet. Effective date of the FIRM panel(s) covering it (5155270011H, 5155270012H, 5155270018H, 5155270019H): May 16, 2016.
| FEMA zone | Share of area |
|---|---|
| X (unshaded, minimal) | 32% |
| VE | 26% |
| AE | 21% |
| X (shaded, 0.2% annual chance) | 20% |
| A | 0.5% |
What the zones mean
- Zone AE (and A, AH, AO)
- High-risk: part of the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA), the area FEMA maps as having a 1-percent chance of flooding in any given year (the “100-year” or base flood). AE areas have a mapped base flood elevation.
- Zone VE (and V)
- High-risk coastal areas, also in the SFHA, where the base flood is expected to bring additional hazards from storm waves.
- Zone X (shaded)
- Moderate hazard: between the limits of the 1-percent and the 0.2-percent-annual-chance (“500-year”) flood.
- Zone X (unshaded)
- Minimal hazard: outside the SFHA and higher than the 0.2-percent-annual-chance flood elevation. Minimal is not zero: flood claims are filed from X zones too.
Source: FEMA Glossary: Flood Zones.
Flood insurance claims over time
Claims filed under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) from the 2010 Census block groups that cover Back River. This area is made of whole block groups, so every claim counted here comes from inside it. Only insured properties appear, so these counts understate total flooding.
By decade
| Decade | Claims | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 2 | $941 |
| 1990s | 15 | $8,258 |
| 2000s | 69 | $1,001,049 |
| 2010s | 8 | $55,639 |
| 2020s | 1 | $4,611 |
By year of loss
Named flood events with the most claims
- Hurricane Isabel: 49 claims
- November 2009 Nor'easter: 14 claims
- Hurricane Floyd: 10 claims
- Flooding: 4 claims
- Hurricane Irene: 4 claims
FEMA labels some events only as “Flooding”. Claims by the flood zone the property was rated in:
- A/AE/AH/AO (high risk): 78
- X/B/C (moderate or minimal): 16
- V/VE (coastal high hazard): 1
How much is flood insurance in Back River?
The typical National Flood Insurance Program policy on single-family homes in Back River costs $793 a year: the median of 374 policies that started between September 1, 2025 and August 31, 2026. Half of them cost between $605 and $1,036. That is the full amount paid for the year, the premium plus FEMA’s fees and surcharges, and every one of these policies is priced under Risk Rating 2.0. A quote for one building can be far from this: its elevation, foundation, age, coverage and deductible all change the price. Private flood insurance is not included.
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Dataset: FIMA NFIP Redacted Policies - v3, computed November 7, 2026.
Why home insurance costs what it does in Back River
This section is educational and is not insurance advice.
Flood insurance
ZIP codes do not follow neighborhood lines. This is a ZIP code on at least 5% of the flood claims counted for Back River, within 10 km of it.
- ZIP code 23669: the median National Flood Insurance Program policy cost for single-family homes was $789 a year, the middle of 3,307 policies that started between September 1, 2025 and August 31, 2026. Half of them cost between $577 and $1,138. These policies are priced under Risk Rating 2.0.
- ZIP code 23669: NFIP records list 1,782 flood claims with a loss year from 1978 through 2025. The claims dataset is as of September 8, 2026.
Fire and wind
- USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities gives Hampton, VA a Risk to Homes national percentile rank of 0.538, which its methods call Medium (above the 40th percentile and below the 70th). That is the city rating, not a rating of Back River alone. The summary file is dated April 15, 2026.
What to ask your agent
- Ask the agent how old the roof is.
- Ask whether a wind-mitigation discount is available for this house.
- Ask how flood coverage differs from the homeowners policy. A standard homeowners policy does not cover flood. Flood coverage is a separate policy.
- Ask whether the policy has a separate hurricane or windstorm deductible, and how that deductible is calculated.
- Ask when coverage would start. A new National Flood Insurance Program policy generally takes effect 30 days after purchase.
Flood coverage and the 30-day wait: FEMA fact sheet, Jan. 21, 2025; 44 CFR 61.11.
What do NFIP records show for flood insurance in Back River?
ZIP code 23669: the median National Flood Insurance Program policy cost for single-family homes was $789 a year, the middle of 3,307 policies that started between September 1, 2025 and August 31, 2026. Half of them cost between $577 and $1,138. These policies are priced under Risk Rating 2.0. ZIP code 23669: NFIP records list 1,782 flood claims with a loss year from 1978 through 2025. The claims dataset is as of September 8, 2026.
What do public fire and wind records show for Back River?
USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities gives Hampton, VA a Risk to Homes national percentile rank of 0.538, which its methods call Medium (above the 40th percentile and below the 70th). That is the city rating, not a rating of Back River alone. The summary file is dated April 15, 2026.
What should I ask an insurance agent about a home in Back River?
Ask the agent how old the roof is. Ask whether a wind-mitigation discount is available for this house. Ask how flood coverage differs from the homeowners policy. A standard homeowners policy does not cover flood. Flood coverage is a separate policy. Ask whether the policy has a separate hurricane or windstorm deductible, and how that deductible is calculated. Ask when coverage would start. A new National Flood Insurance Program policy generally takes effect 30 days after purchase.
Sources: OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Policies v3; OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims v3; USDA Forest Service, Wildfire Risk to Communities, community summaries; Wildfire Risk to Communities methods.
Insurance agency or real estate agent? Sponsor this page.
Before you rent or buy in Back River
- Look up the exact address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center; a neighborhood can mix high-risk and minimal-hazard zones.
- Ask the landlord or seller about past flooding and flood insurance claims at the property.
- Get a flood insurance quote early: new NFIP policies usually take 30 days to start (FloodSmart (NFIP): Buy a Flood Insurance Policy).
- Ask which floor the unit is on and where parking, storage and mechanical equipment sit.
Living in Back River
Flood maps are only one part of choosing a neighborhood. To compare Back River with other Hampton neighborhoods on more than flooding, see Hampton on StrollPlace.
Buyer and renter FAQ
Does Back River flood?
Yes. Insured properties in and around Back River have filed flood claims. About 48% of Back River’s mapped area is inside FEMA’s Special Flood Hazard Area; the rest is in moderate or minimal-hazard Zone X. NFIP flood insurance records list 95 claims from the Census block groups that cover Back River, from 1978 through 2021. 70 of them received a payment, totaling $1,070,499 (not adjusted for inflation). The busiest years were 2003 (49 claims), 2009 (14 claims), 1999 (10 claims). Past claims do not predict future flooding, and conditions vary street by street, so check the specific address.
Is Back River in a flood zone?
About 48% of Back River’s mapped area is inside FEMA’s Special Flood Hazard Area; the rest is in moderate or minimal-hazard Zone X. Shares by zone: X (unshaded, minimal) 32%; VE 26%; AE 21%; X (shaded, 0.2% annual chance) 20%; A 0.5%. The FIRM panel(s) covering it took effect May 16, 2016.
Which streets in Back River are in a high-risk flood zone?
Most of the length of Rockwell Rd, Oakville Rd, Old Meribeth Rd, Shelby Ave and Michele Dr lies in FEMA high-risk zones (the Special Flood Hazard Area). Less than 10% of Clemwood Pkwy, Apollo Dr, Fox Hill Rd, Walnut St, Valirey Dr, Madrid Dr, Chickamauga Pike and Long Bridge Rd does. Zones can change along a street, so check the exact address.
What ZIP code is Back River in?
Back River is in Hampton, VA. ZIP code 23669: the ZIP code on 95 of the 95 flood insurance claims counted here. ZIP codes do not follow neighborhood lines. Check the specific address for its own flood zone.
Do renters need flood insurance?
Standard renters policies usually do not cover flood. Renters in a community that participates in the NFIP can buy contents-only flood coverage, up to $100,000 for belongings.
How long does a new flood policy take to start?
A new NFIP policy generally takes effect 30 days after purchase. Exceptions include no wait when the policy is bought while making, increasing, extending or renewing a mortgage, and a one-day wait in a newly designated high-risk zone within 12 months of the map change.
How much coverage can NFIP provide?
For a one-to-four family home, NFIP building coverage goes up to $250,000 and contents coverage up to $100,000. You can buy flood insurance even if you are not in a high-risk zone, as long as your community participates in the NFIP.
How much is flood insurance in Back River?
The typical NFIP flood insurance policy on single-family homes in Back River cost $793 a year: the median of 374 policies that started between September 1, 2025 and August 31, 2026. Half cost between $605 and $1,036. One building’s quote can be far from this; its elevation, foundation, age, coverage and deductible all change the price.
FAQ sources: FloodSmart (NFIP): Buy a Flood Insurance Policy; FEMA Fact Sheet: Think you don’t need flood insurance? Think again (Jan. 21, 2025); 44 CFR 61.11, Effective date and time of coverage.
Nearby neighborhoods
- Does Sherwood Park flood?
- Cedar Park
- Does Edgewater flood?
- Does Holiday Park flood?
- Does East Hampton flood?
- Elizabeth Lake Estates
How these numbers were made
Area: the census-based definition above, using U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb, 2010 Census Block Groups and U.S. Geological Survey, Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) domestic names. Flood zone shares: the area polygon intersected with FEMA National Flood Hazard Layer (NFHL), Flood Hazard Zones and FIRM Panels, area computed in an equal-area projection; retrieved November 7, 2026. Claims: OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims v3 records for City of Hampton (county code 51650), dataset as of September 8, 2026, retrieved November 7, 2026. Claims are counted for exactly the block groups that make up the area. Block groups used: 516500107031, 516500107021, 516500107033, 516500107032, 516500101031. Neighboring pages can share a block group, so their counts can overlap. Paid totals add building, contents and Increased Cost of Compliance payments and are not adjusted for inflation; a claim whose FEMA record shows a negative payment (an adjustment) counts as zero. See the methodology.
Sources
- Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), FEMA OpenFEMA Dataset: FIMA NFIP Redacted Claims - v3. Retrieved on November 7, 2026.
- FEMA National Flood Hazard Layer (NFHL), Flood Hazard Zones and FIRM Panels. Retrieved on November 7, 2026.
- U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb, 2010 Census Block Groups and U.S. Geological Survey, Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) domestic names.
- FEMA Glossary: Flood Zones.
- FloodSmart (NFIP): Buy a Flood Insurance Policy.
- FEMA Fact Sheet: Think you don’t need flood insurance? Think again (Jan. 21, 2025).
- 44 CFR 61.11, Effective date and time of coverage.
- OpenFEMA Terms and Conditions.
- FEMA OpenFEMA Dataset: FIMA NFIP Redacted Policies - v3.
- OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Policies v3.
- OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims v3.
- USDA Forest Service, Wildfire Risk to Communities, community summaries.
- Wildfire Risk to Communities methods.
- U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb, Transportation (primary, secondary and local roads).
Data as of September 8, 2026 (FEMA claims) and November 7, 2026 (flood zones). Page last updated November 7, 2026.