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Natural hazard risk in Washington County, Virginia

Updated October 30, 2026. Based on FEMA, NOAA and OpenFEMA data. Published by Humblebee.

FEMA overall Risk Index rating: Relatively Low (score 46.5 of 100)[5]

Expected annual loss (FEMA)
$12.4 million[1]
Federal disaster declarations since 1976
18[2]
NFIP flood claims paid, 1978 to 2026
$1.7 million[3]
Tornadoes recorded, 1950 to 2024
12[4]

FEMA's National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025) rates overall natural hazard risk in Washington County as Relatively Low, with a score of 46.5 out of 100[5]. The hazards with the highest FEMA scores within the county are landslide, strong wind and earthquake[6].

FEMA risk ratings for each hazard

Ratings and expected losses from the FEMA National Risk Index. Each rating compares this county with all US counties for that hazard, from Very Low to Very High. They are planning estimates, not predictions, and they do not describe any single property.

FEMA estimates Expected Annual Loss from all 18 natural hazards at $12.4 million a year, and rates it Very Low compared with other US counties[1]. FEMA's estimate is an average yearly loss and not money anyone paid[7]. By expected loss, the largest hazards are inland flooding ($8.5 million a year), strong wind ($934,000 a year) and cold wave ($878,000 a year)[8]. FEMA rates Social Vulnerability as Relatively High, with a score of 61.0[9]. FEMA rates Community Resilience as Relatively Low, with a score of 34.8[10]. The index is not meant to predict next year's damage[7].

Hazards sorted by FEMA hazard-type Risk Index score, highest first
HazardFEMA risk ratingExpected annual loss
LandslideRelatively Moderate$93,000[11]
Strong WindRelatively Moderate$934,000[12]
EarthquakeRelatively Low$803,000[13]
AvalancheRelatively Low$2,904[14]
Inland FloodingRelatively Low$8.5 million[15]
LightningRelatively Moderate$256,000[16]
HurricaneVery Low$103,000[17]
DroughtRelatively Low$153,000[18]
Cold WaveRelatively Low$878,000[19]
Ice StormRelatively Low$63,000[20]
Winter WeatherRelatively Low$36,000[21]
WildfireVery Low$15,000[22]
HailVery Low$109,000[23]
TornadoRelatively Low$436,000[24]

Rated Not Applicable by FEMA for this county: coastal flooding, tsunami, volcanic activity[25].

Social vulnerability and community resilience

FEMA uses these two ratings to scale expected losses into the Risk Index.

FEMA measureRatingScore
Social vulnerabilityRelatively High61.0[9]
Community resilienceRelatively Low34.8[10]

Flooding and flood insurance

FEMA rates inland flooding risk Relatively Low compared with other US counties, with a score of 63.5[15]. OpenFEMA data as of 2026-08-03 lists 122 residential flood insurance contracts in force out of 24,899 residential structures[26]. Inside the mapped Special Flood Hazard Area, 21.8% of homes are insured[26]. OpenFEMA NFIP claims data from 1978 to 2026 lists 80 claims, and NFIP paid $1.7 million in total[3]. To learn the flood zone of an address, use FEMA's Flood Map Service Center[27].

Measure Value
Inland Flooding, FEMA risk rating[15] Relatively Low, $8.5 million expected loss a year
NFIP residential flood policies in force (2026)[26] 122 of 24,899 homes
Homes in FEMA's mapped high-risk flood area (SFHA)[26] 386, of which 84 insured
NFIP flood claims, 1978 to 2026[3] 80 filed, $1.7 million paid

Is a specific address in a flood zone? Only FEMA's flood maps answer that, property by property[27]. This page describes the whole county.

Search an address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center

Disaster declarations and tornado records

OpenFEMA lists 18 federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Washington County since 1976[2]. The most recent in the facts is a severe winter storm emergency declared 2026-01-23[28]. NOAA's tornado database records 12 tornadoes touching the county from 1950 to 2024[4]. The strongest were rated EF3, most recently on 2011-04-27[4].

Federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Washington County, since 1976
Incident type Declarations
Flood[2] 4
Severe Storm[2] 4
Hurricane[2] 3
Snowstorm[2] 3
Tropical Storm[2] 2
Winter Storm[2] 1
Drought[2] 1
Most recent declarations
Declaration Incident Declared
EM-3631-VA[28] Severe Winter Storm 2026-01-23
DR-4863-VA[28] Severe Winter Storms And Flooding 2025-04-04
DR-4831-VA[28] Tropical Storm Helene 2024-10-01
EM-3621-VA[28] Post-Tropical Cyclone Helene 2024-09-29
EM-3403-VA[28] Hurricane Florence 2018-09-11

How to prepare

Steps from Ready.gov, FEMA's preparedness site, for the hazards with the highest FEMA ratings here. Follow instructions from local officials and the National Weather Service when a warning is issued.

Earthquakes

Before

  • Practice Drop, Cover, and Hold On with your family and coworkers.
  • Sign up for earthquake alerts that can warn you before shaking starts.
  • Make a plan with an out-of-state contact and a place to meet if you get separated.
  • Anchor heavy items such as bookcases, refrigerators and water heaters, and keep heavy things on low shelves.
  • Consider earthquake insurance. Standard homeowners policies do not cover earthquake damage.

During

  • Drop to your hands and knees, cover your head and neck, and hold on until the shaking stops.
  • Indoors, stay where you are and avoid doorways. Outdoors, move to an open area away from buildings and power lines.
  • If you are driving, pull over, stop and set the parking brake.

Source: Ready.gov, earthquakes

Floods

Before

  • Check your flood risk with FEMA's Flood Map Service Center, and remember that floods do not follow map lines.
  • Sign up for your community's warning system. NOAA Weather Radio also broadcasts alerts.
  • Buy flood insurance through the NFIP well before a disaster. Homeowners policies do not cover flooding, and a new policy typically takes up to 30 days to go into effect.
  • Make a household plan with evacuation routes, shelter locations and what to do in a flash flood.
  • Keep important documents in a waterproof container and make password-protected digital copies.

During

  • If you are told to evacuate, leave right away and never drive around barricades.
  • Do not walk, swim or drive through floodwater. Six inches of moving water can knock you down.
  • If you are trapped in a building, go to the highest level, but do not climb into a closed attic.

Source: Ready.gov, floods

Questions people ask

Is Washington County, VA at risk of flooding?
FEMA rates inland flooding risk Relatively Low compared with other US counties, with a score of 63.5[15]. Inland flooding has the largest Expected Annual Loss of any hazard here, at $8.5 million a year[8].
Does Washington County, VA have tornadoes?
NOAA's tornado database records 12 tornadoes touching the county from 1950 to 2024[4]. FEMA rates tornado risk Relatively Low compared with other US counties[24].
Is Washington County, VA at risk of earthquakes?
FEMA rates earthquake risk Relatively Low compared with other US counties, with a score of 72.6[13]. FEMA estimates earthquake Expected Annual Loss at $803,000 a year[13].
How many disasters have been declared in Washington County, VA?
OpenFEMA lists 18 federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include the county since 1976[2].
How do I check the flood zone of an address?
Look up the address in FEMA's Flood Map Service Center, or ask the local floodplain manager[27]. County ratings do not tell the flood zone of a single address[27].

Facts and sources

  1. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): Expected Annual Loss from all 18 natural hazards in Washington County is $12.4 million a year (Expected Annual Loss rating Very Low, score 43.3). Of this, buildings account for $9.6 million, injuries and deaths (converted to dollars by FEMA) for $2.3 million... FEMA National Risk Index
  2. OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries list 18 federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Washington County since 1976 (11 major disaster, 7 emergency or fire management). By incident type: flood 4, severe storm 4, hurricane 3, snowstorm 3, tropical storm 2, winter storm 1, drought 1.... OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations
  3. HazardFacts tally of OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims (losses from 1978 to 2026): 80 National Flood Insurance Program claims were filed for losses in Washington County, 56 of them with a payment, and NFIP paid $1.7 million in total (building, contents and increased cost of compliance, in dollars of the year paid).... OpenFEMA NFIP claims
  4. NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database (1950 to 2024): 12 recorded tornadoes touched Washington County. The strongest were rated EF3 (most recent of them on 2011-04-27). 2 were rated F3/EF3 or stronger. The most recent recorded tornado was on 2012-02-29. Ratings used the Fujita scale until early 2007 and the... NOAA Storm Prediction Center
  5. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): the overall natural hazard Risk Index rating for Washington County is Relatively Low, with a Risk Index score of 46.5 out of 100. The score is the county's percentile rank among all US counties. FEMA National Risk Index
  6. Among the 18 hazards in the FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), the hazards with the highest hazard-type Risk Index scores for Washington County are landslide (94.4, Relatively Moderate), strong wind (74.8, Relatively Moderate), earthquake (72.6, Relatively Low). HazardFacts sorted FEMA's... FEMA National Risk Index
  7. FEMA's National Risk Index FAQ (December 2025): Expected Annual Loss is FEMA's estimate of the average economic loss in dollars from natural hazards each year. The index is not meant to predict how much damage a community will have in the next year, and a hazard can still cause damage where a rating is low. Scores... FEMA National Risk Index documentation
  8. HazardFacts sorted FEMA's hazard-type Expected Annual Loss values for Washington County (National Risk Index v1.20): the largest are inland flooding ($8.5 million a year), strong wind ($934,000 a year), cold wave ($878,000 a year), out of $12.4 million a year from all 18 hazards. FEMA National Risk Index
  9. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): Social Vulnerability rating for Washington County is Relatively High (score 61.0). FEMA describes social vulnerability as how susceptible social groups are to the harm natural hazards cause. FEMA National Risk Index
  10. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): Community Resilience rating for Washington County is Relatively Low (score 34.8). FEMA describes community resilience as a community's ability to prepare for, withstand and recover from hazards. FEMA National Risk Index
  11. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), landslide in Washington County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 94.4 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $93,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). FEMA National Risk Index
  12. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), strong wind in Washington County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 74.8 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $934,000 a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 2.82 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 38... FEMA National Risk Index
  13. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), earthquake in Washington County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 72.6 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $803,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). FEMA's modeled annual frequency is 0.002 events per year. FEMA National Risk Index
  14. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), avalanche in Washington County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 67.5 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $2,904 a year (rating Very Low). Annualized frequency 0.01 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 28 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  15. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), inland flooding in Washington County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 63.5 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $8.5 million a year (rating Relatively Low). Annualized frequency 1 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 26... FEMA National Risk Index
  16. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), lightning in Washington County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 57.3 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $256,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). Annualized frequency 49.03 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 24 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  17. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), hurricane in Washington County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 54.9 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $103,000 a year (rating Very Low). Annualized frequency 0.02 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 172 years for the Atlantic... FEMA National Risk Index
  18. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), drought in Washington County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 53.2 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $153,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). Annualized frequency 11.94 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 22 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  19. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), cold wave in Washington County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 52.4 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $878,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). Annualized frequency 2.31 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 18 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  20. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), ice storm in Washington County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 47.1 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $63,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). Annualized frequency 0.22 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 68 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  21. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), winter weather in Washington County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 38.6 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $36,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). Annualized frequency 13.04 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 18 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  22. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), wildfire in Washington County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 33.1 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $15,000 a year (rating Very Low). FEMA's modeled annual frequency is 0.0011 events per year. FEMA National Risk Index
  23. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), hail in Washington County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 32.1 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $109,000 a year (rating Very Low). Annualized frequency 3.28 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 37 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  24. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), tornado in Washington County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 30.1 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $436,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). Annualized frequency 0.09 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 38 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  25. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025) rates these hazards Not Applicable for Washington County: coastal flooding, tsunami, volcanic activity. FEMA uses Not Applicable when its source data has no historical record of the hazard in the community and the hazard is not considered geographically... FEMA National Risk Index documentation
  26. NFIP Residential Penetration Rates (OpenFEMA, as of 2026-08-03): 122 residential flood insurance contracts were in force in Washington County, out of 24,899 residential structures, a penetration rate of 0.5%. Inside FEMA's mapped Special Flood Hazard Area there were 386 residential structures and 84 contracts, a... OpenFEMA NFIP penetration rates
  27. FEMA's Flood Map Service Center is the official public source for flood maps (Flood Insurance Rate Maps) produced under the National Flood Insurance Program. Flood zones apply to specific properties: look up an address there or ask the local floodplain manager. County-level ratings do not tell you the flood zone of... FEMA Flood Map Service Center
  28. Most recent federal disaster declarations for natural hazards (table on this page). OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations

FEMA's National Risk Index compares each county with all other US counties. Ratings are relative (Very Low to Very High), not a measure of safety. Never call a place safe, unsafe, good or bad to live in. Risk Index and Expected Annual Loss values are FEMA estimates for planning. They do not predict next year's losses and do not apply to a single property. Flood zones are set by FEMA flood maps for specific properties. County ratings and flood insurance counts do not tell anyone whether an address is in a flood zone. Disaster declaration, NFIP and tornado counts are records of the past for this county only. Do not compare with other counties unless a fact does.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), National Risk Index Dataset: National Risk Index Counties, v1.20 (December 2025). Retrieved from fema.maps.arcgis.com on October 30, 2026. This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's National Risk Index dataset API or downloadable datasets but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s). This product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA.