The City’s Flood Action Alexandria team is encouraging residents to learn about local flood risks and discover ways they can stay safe during a flood event. Virginia Flood Awareness Week will be observed from Sunday, March 9 to Saturday, March 15, 2025. 

Floods are one of the most common natural disasters in the United States and can happen at any time, threatening life, property, and economic wellbeing. The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation recognizes Virginia Flood Awareness Week annually in March to encourage residents to learn about their flood risks and the importance of purchasing flood insurance to protect their families and property. Flood insurance can be purchased through a homeowner’s insurance broker or directly from FEMA. The City’s floodplain management efforts, which go beyond the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) minimum standards, provides up to a 20 percent discount on flood insurance premiums for property owners.

The City will recognize Virginia Flood Awareness Week with a reading of a proclamation during the City Council Legislative Meeting on March 25, 2025.

Like other national and global communities, the City has been impacted by more intense storm events exacerbated by climate change that drop large volumes of rainfall in short periods of time. The City recognizes the potential future flood risks caused by these storms and its impact to residents, as stated by the City’s Environmental Action Plan 2040, and included in the Climate Emergency resolution adopted by the City Council on October 22, 2019.  

In response to intense storm events in 2019, 2020, and 2021, the City launched the Flood Action Alexandria initiative in 2021 which coordinates a team of experts across multiple departments and external consultants to mitigate flooding issues through capital project implementation and maintenance programs. The program also includes the Flood Mitigation Grant Program that provides 50/50 matching reimbursement grants of up to $5,000 to property owners who spend up to $10,000, and to condominium and homeowner associations which spend up to $25,000 for the installation of eligible floodproofing practices.  

The Flood Action Alexandria team is advised by a City Council-appointed group of residents who work collaboratively with City staff and the community on flood mitigation activities. Originally established as the Ad Hoc Stormwater Utility and Flood Mitigation Advisory Group on January 26, 2021, the City Council approved by ordinance the creation of the permanent Stormwater Utility and Flood Mitigation Advisory Committee on December 16, 2023.   

Since the launch of Flood Action Alexandria, the City has completed numerous spot improvement projects that address localized flooding in neighborhoods and has started design work for the top-priority large capacity Commonwealth, Ashby, and Glebe Flood Mitigation Project.   

Residents can track the progress of the City’s Flood Action Alexandria capital projects using the digital Project Dashboard.    

Follow the City of Alexandria Department of Transportation and Environmental Services on social media for information during Virginia Flood Awareness Week.