Augusta County, VA
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Augusta County has experienced 24 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.
Augusta County's highest-rated hazards are landslide, hail, and inland flooding, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have decreased 63% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period. Community vulnerability is relatively low (21st 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. Augusta County has been designated in 24 declarations since 1969, covering 7 disaster types including hurricane (6), flood (5), severe storm (4).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2018 | Hurricane | Hurricane Florence |
| 2013 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2012 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Straight-Line Winds |
| 2010 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storms And Snowstorms |
| 2010 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2003 | Hurricane | Hurricane Isabel |
Showing the 10 most recent of 24 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 | 72 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Moderate | 80.2 | 100 | 0 | $25K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | 70.6 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 52.8 | 5 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 34.1 | 2 | 0 | $350K |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | 79.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | 80.4 | 21 | 1 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 78.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | 72.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | 32 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 40.5 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | 71 | 1 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | 71.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Moderate | 90.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 65.9 | — | — | — |
| 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
Augusta County ranks in the 21st percentile (Very 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 | 21st | Very low |
| Socioeconomic status | 16th | Very low |
| Household characteristics | 16th | Very low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 32nd | Low |
| Housing type & transportation | 53rd | 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 | 57th | Relatively Moderate |
| Risk to homes | 59th | Relatively Moderate |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 77.8% | — |
NOAA tracked 129 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 94 in 2016–20 vs 35 in 2021–25 (-63% — 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 Augusta County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Augusta County, Virginia are landslide, hail, and inland flooding. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Augusta County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Augusta County has received 24 federal disaster declarations since 1969, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is hurricane (6 declarations).
Has Augusta County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Augusta County include Severe Winter Storm (2026). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1969.
How does Augusta County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Rockingham County, VA has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Highland County, VA has the lowest (Very Low). Augusta County is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Augusta County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Augusta 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. Augusta County's composite score of 69 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 69% of US counties.