Albemarle County, VA
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Albemarle County has experienced 25 federally declared disasters since 1969, most recently Severe Winter Storm in 2026. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Albemarle County's highest-rated hazards are strong wind, earthquake, and inland flooding, with its top risk rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have decreased 35% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period. Community vulnerability is relatively low (25th percentile nationally), indicating stronger recovery capacity than most US counties.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Albemarle County has been designated in 25 declarations since 1969, covering 10 disaster types including hurricane (6), severe storm (5), snowstorm (5).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2025 | Tropical Storm | Tropical Storm Helene |
| 2022 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2018 | Hurricane | Hurricane Florence |
| 2016 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| 2013 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2012 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Straight-Line Winds |
| 2012 | Earthquake | Earthquake |
Showing the 10 most recent of 25 total declarations since 1969.
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries. A single disaster can produce more than one record per county. Data current through September 2026.
Risk by hazard type
| Hazard | Risk rating | Risk score | Recorded events | Deaths | Prop. damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | Relatively Low | 64.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Moderate | 85.1 | 139 | 3 | $65K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | 85.6 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 69.2 | 8 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 52.2 | 2 | 0 | $50K |
| Hurricane | Relatively Moderate | 82.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 48.8 | 28 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively High | 90.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | 70.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | 54.9 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 11.2 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | 77.8 | 3 | 0 | $7K |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | 78.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | 83.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 49.4 | — | — | — |
| Tsunami | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Volcanic Activity | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
Scores are 0–100 percentiles relative to all US counties — higher means more exposed, not that a disaster is likely this year. Event counts: NOAA Storm Events 2016–2026; earthquake counts from USGS ComCat (M3.0+, 1996–2026). See the methodology page for details.
Community vulnerability
Albemarle County ranks in the 25th percentile (Low) for community vulnerability — a measure of how hard disaster impacts tend to hit residents. Higher vulnerability means more displacement, worse health outcomes, and slower recovery after a disaster.
| SVI theme | Percentile | Vulnerability level |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 25th | Low |
| Socioeconomic status | 13th | Very low |
| Household characteristics | 25th | Low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 59th | Moderate |
| Housing type & transportation | 51st | Moderate |
Source: CDC/ATSDR Social Vulnerability Index 2022. Percentiles compare counties nationally — higher means more vulnerable relative to other counties. See CDC SVI for full methodology.
Future risk outlook
| Wildfire metric | National percentile | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Burn probability | 42nd | Relatively Moderate |
| Risk to homes | 43rd | Relatively Moderate |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 78.8% | — |
NOAA tracked 180 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 109 in 2016–20 vs 71 in 2021–25 (-35% — frequency decreasing).
Wildfire: USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (RDS-2020-0016-2) — modeled values, not annual forecasts. See wildfirerisk.org. Inland flood and heat projections pending data availability; coastal sea-level projections are available for select coastal counties below — see the data page.
Nearby counties
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards pose the greatest risk in Albemarle County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Albemarle County, Virginia are strong wind, earthquake, and inland flooding. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Albemarle County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Albemarle County has received 25 federal disaster declarations since 1969, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is hurricane (6 declarations).
Has Albemarle County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Albemarle County include Severe Winter Storm (2026), Tropical Storm Helene (2025). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1969.
How does Albemarle County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Nelson County, VA has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Very Low) and Greene County, VA has the lowest (Very Low). Albemarle County is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Albemarle County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Albemarle County's composite disaster risk index — officially FEMA's National Risk Index (NRI) — scores every US county on a 0–100 percentile scale across 18 natural hazard types, factoring in expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience. Albemarle County's composite score of 78 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 78% of US counties.