Brunswick County, VA
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Brunswick County has experienced 19 federally declared disasters since 1973, most recently Severe Winter Storm in 2026. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Brunswick County's highest-rated hazards are drought, hurricane, and winter weather, with its top risk rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have increased 120% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period. Community vulnerability is elevated (83rd percentile nationally), suggesting residents may face greater difficulty recovering from major disasters.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Brunswick County has been designated in 19 declarations since 1973, covering 8 disaster types including hurricane (8), snowstorm (3), biological (2).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2019 | Hurricane | Tropical Storm Michael |
| 2018 | Hurricane | Hurricane Florence |
| 2013 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2011 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irene |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2003 | Hurricane | Hurricane Isabel |
Showing the 10 most recent of 19 total declarations since 1973.
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 | Very Low | 21.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Very Low | 28.8 | 23 | 0 | — |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 44.1 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 38.6 | 2 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Very Low | 23 | 2 | 0 | $20K |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | 79.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Very Low | 22.4 | 5 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | 20.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 49.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | 31.8 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 20.5 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Very Low | 20.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively High | 95.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 16.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| 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
Brunswick County ranks in the 83rd percentile (High) 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 | 83rd | High |
| Socioeconomic status | 81st | High |
| Household characteristics | 31st | Low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 91st | High |
| Housing type & transportation | 93rd | High |
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 | 33rd | Relatively Low |
| Risk to homes | 31st | Relatively Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 90.6% | — |
NOAA tracked 32 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 10 in 2016–20 vs 22 in 2021–25 (+120% — frequency increasing).
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 Brunswick County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Brunswick County, Virginia are drought, hurricane, and winter weather. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Brunswick County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Brunswick County has received 19 federal disaster declarations since 1973, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is hurricane (8 declarations).
Has Brunswick County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Brunswick County include Severe Winter Storm (2026). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1973.
How does Brunswick County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Warren County, NC has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Emporia, VA has the lowest (Very Low). Brunswick County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Brunswick County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Brunswick 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. Brunswick County's composite score of 28 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 28% of US counties.