Does Salem flood?
Salem, Virginia Beach, VA · ZIP codes 23456 and 23453: the ZIP codes on most of the flood insurance claims counted here. ZIP codes do not follow neighborhood lines.
Yes. Insured properties in and around Salem have filed flood claims. About 6.6% of Salem’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 25 claims from the Census block groups that cover Salem, from 1978 through 2020. 17 of them received a payment, totaling $128,844 (not adjusted for inflation). The busiest years were 2016 (11 claims), 2003 (2 claims), 1998 (2 claims).
What this page counts as Salem
We could not find an openly licensed official boundary for Salem, so this page uses a census-based area. For this page, Salem 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 Salem (feature 1479531) and inside the Virginia Beach 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 Salem. Sources: U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb, 2010 Census Block Groups, National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places boundaries (NRHP polygons) 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 Salem
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 Salem
The named streets in Salem, longest first, with how much of each street’s length inside Salem lies in FEMA’s high-risk flood zones (the Special Flood Hazard Area, zones A and V). Length is the part inside Salem; 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. 127 shorter streets are not listed.
| Street | Length | In high-risk zones | Main zone |
|---|---|---|---|
| S Independence Blvd | 5.5 mi | 1.2% | X (unshaded, minimal) (98%) |
| Lynnhaven Pkwy | 4.6 mi | 1.1% | X (unshaded, minimal) (96%) |
| Salem Rd | 3.3 mi | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Princess Anne Rd | 3.0 mi | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Ferrell Pkwy | 2.2 mi | 1.7% | X (unshaded, minimal) (96%) |
| Rock Lake Loop | 1.9 mi | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Revere Dr | 1.4 mi | 4.2% | X (unshaded, minimal) (95%) |
| Round Hill Dr | 1.3 mi | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Grey Friars Chase | 1.1 mi | 31% | X (unshaded, minimal) (58%) |
| Windsor Oaks Blvd | 4,700 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Buckner Blvd | 4,410 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Boxford Rd | 4,170 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Rainbow Dr | 4,050 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Aquamarine Dr | 3,600 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Dahlia Dr | 3,570 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Yorktown Blvd | 3,270 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Michael Labouve Dr | 3,250 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Topaz Ln | 3,140 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Spence Gate Cir | 3,000 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Woodbridge Trl | 2,900 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| River Rock Arch | 2,770 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Nesbitt Dr | 2,710 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Clemsford Dr | 2,670 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Centennial Cir | 2,490 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Peridot Dr | 2,480 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
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 5, 2026. Each street is clipped to the area boundary and measured in an equal-area projection. Street lengths are rounded.
Flood zones in Salem
Share of Salem’s mapped area (about 7.886 km²) in each FEMA flood zone, from FEMA National Flood Hazard Layer (NFHL), Flood Hazard Zones and FIRM Panels. Effective date of the FIRM panel(s) covering it (5100340029D, 5155310092G, 5155310094G, 5155310111G, 5155310113F): May 4, 2009, December 16, 2014, January 16, 2015.
| FEMA zone | Share of area |
|---|---|
| X (unshaded, minimal) | 92% |
| AE | 4.2% |
| A | 2.4% |
| X (shaded, 0.2% annual chance) | 1.4% |
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 Salem. 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 | 1 | $0 |
| 1990s | 5 | $8,179 |
| 2000s | 4 | $2,921 |
| 2010s | 14 | $117,743 |
| 2020s | 1 | $0 |
By year of loss
Named flood events with the most claims
- Hurricane Matthew: 9 claims
- Hurricane Isabel: 2 claims
- Flooding: 2 claims
- Hurricane Irene: 1 claims
- Tropical Storm Ernesto: 1 claims
FEMA labels some events only as “Flooding”. Claims by the flood zone the property was rated in:
- A/AE/AH/AO (high risk): 12
- X/B/C (moderate or minimal): 12
- Not reported: 1
How much is flood insurance in Salem?
The typical National Flood Insurance Program policy on single-family homes in Salem costs $769 a year: the median of 184 policies that started between September 1, 2025 and August 31, 2026. Half of them cost between $693 and $842. 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 5, 2026.
Why home insurance costs what it does in Salem
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 Salem, within 10 km of it.
- ZIP code 23453: the median National Flood Insurance Program policy cost for single-family homes was $687 a year, the middle of 777 policies that started between September 1, 2025 and August 31, 2026. Half of them cost between $560 and $840. These policies are priced under Risk Rating 2.0.
- ZIP code 23453: NFIP records list 203 flood claims with a loss year from 1986 through 2025. The claims dataset is as of September 8, 2026.
Fire and wind
- USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities gives Virginia Beach, VA a Risk to Homes national percentile rank of 0.789, which its methods call High (above the 70th percentile and below the 90th). That is the city rating, not a rating of Salem 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 Salem?
ZIP code 23453: the median National Flood Insurance Program policy cost for single-family homes was $687 a year, the middle of 777 policies that started between September 1, 2025 and August 31, 2026. Half of them cost between $560 and $840. These policies are priced under Risk Rating 2.0. ZIP code 23453: NFIP records list 203 flood claims with a loss year from 1986 through 2025. The claims dataset is as of September 8, 2026.
What do public fire and wind records show for Salem?
USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities gives Virginia Beach, VA a Risk to Homes national percentile rank of 0.789, which its methods call High (above the 70th percentile and below the 90th). That is the city rating, not a rating of Salem alone. The summary file is dated April 15, 2026.
What should I ask an insurance agent about a home in Salem?
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.
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Before you rent or buy in Salem
- 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 Salem
Flood maps are only one part of choosing a neighborhood. To compare Salem with other Virginia Beach neighborhoods on more than flooding, see Virginia Beach on StrollPlace.
Buyer and renter FAQ
Does Salem flood?
Yes. Insured properties in and around Salem have filed flood claims. About 6.6% of Salem’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 25 claims from the Census block groups that cover Salem, from 1978 through 2020. 17 of them received a payment, totaling $128,844 (not adjusted for inflation). The busiest years were 2016 (11 claims), 2003 (2 claims), 1998 (2 claims). Past claims do not predict future flooding, and conditions vary street by street, so check the specific address.
Is Salem in a flood zone?
About 6.6% of Salem’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) 92%; AE 4.2%; A 2.4%; X (shaded, 0.2% annual chance) 1.4%. The FIRM panel(s) covering it took effect May 4, 2009, December 16, 2014, January 16, 2015.
Which streets in Salem are in a high-risk flood zone?
No street listed here has most of its length in FEMA high-risk zones. Less than 10% of S Independence Blvd, Lynnhaven Pkwy, Salem Rd, Princess Anne Rd, Ferrell Pkwy, Rock Lake Loop, Revere Dr and Round Hill Dr does. Zones can change along a street, so check the exact address.
What ZIP code is Salem in?
Salem is in Virginia Beach, VA. ZIP codes 23456 and 23453: the ZIP codes on most of the 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 Salem?
The typical NFIP flood insurance policy on single-family homes in Salem cost $769 a year: the median of 184 policies that started between September 1, 2025 and August 31, 2026. Half cost between $693 and $842. 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 Glenwood flood?
- Does The Lakes flood?
- Does Larkspur flood?
- Acredale
- Kempsville
- Does Windsor Woods flood?
How these numbers were made
Area: the census-based definition above, using U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb, 2010 Census Block Groups, National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places boundaries (NRHP polygons) 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 5, 2026. Claims: OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims v3 records for City of Virginia Beach (county code 51810), dataset as of September 8, 2026, retrieved November 5, 2026. Claims are counted for exactly the block groups that make up the area. Block groups used: 518100460141, 518100460143, 518100460124, 518100460131, 518100460142, 518100460122, 518100460153, 518100462141, 518100462142, 518100462143, 518100462251, 518100460123. 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 5, 2026.
- FEMA National Flood Hazard Layer (NFHL), Flood Hazard Zones and FIRM Panels. Retrieved on November 5, 2026.
- U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb, 2010 Census Block Groups, National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places boundaries (NRHP polygons) 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 5, 2026 (flood zones). Page last updated November 5, 2026.