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Chesapeake, VA · Chesapeake County

Water Risk Profile — ZIP 23328

Flood risk, local cost data, climate factors, and insurance context for your ZIP code.

Flood Risk

High

Cost Range

$2,800–$15,000

Avg Response

40 min

NFIP

State participates

Local Climate & Risk Factors

Chesapeake is an independent city bordering Norfolk and Virginia Beach in Hampton Roads — one of the most flood-vulnerable metro areas in the US. The city sits in the Great Dismal Swamp watershed at near sea-level elevation. Sea level rise in the Hampton Roads region is accelerating (fastest on the East Coast at 5mm+/year) — properties that were not flood-prone a decade ago are now regularly experiencing nuisance flooding. Hurricane Dorian (2019) and Ida (2021) impacts emphasized inland Chesapeake's vulnerability. The Western Branch Chesapeake Bay watershed creates multiple flood corridors through the city.

Flood-prone areas: Deep Creek and South Norfolk near the Elizabeth River have highest tidal flood risk. Western Branch and Greenbrier are inland with lower tidal but still significant storm flood risk. Hickory and Great Bridge are higher-elevation neighborhoods.

Insurance tip: Chesapeake homeowners should check their flood zone status annually — Hampton Roads FEMA maps are being revised due to sea level rise. Properties that were Zone X (no flood insurance required) five years ago may now be Zone AE. Tidal flooding from sea level rise is not covered under homeowners insurance.

Water Category Cost Table — Chesapeake, VA

Extraction & drying cost per square foot by IICRC water category

Water Category$/sq ft
Category 1 — Clean

Burst supply line, clean appliance overflow

$4.76–$12.16
Category 2 — Gray

Dishwasher, washing machine, toilet bowl (no feces)

$12.16–$14.72
Category 3 — Black

Sewage backup, floodwater, toilet overflow with feces

$17.28–$22

Estimates exclude reconstruction (drywall, flooring replacement). National benchmarks: Cat 1 $3.75–$4.25, Cat 2 $4.10–$6.50, Cat 3 $7–$7.50/sq ft — adjusted for Chesapeake market (5.620/sq ft range).

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