Buchanan County, VA
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Buchanan County has experienced 27 federally declared disasters since 1977, most recently Severe Winter Storm in 2026. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Buchanan County's highest-rated hazards are landslide, avalanche, and wildfire, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have increased 92% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Buchanan County has been designated in 27 declarations since 1977, covering 8 disaster types including severe storm (8), flood (6), snowstorm (4).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2025 | Tropical Storm | Tropical Storm Helene |
| 2025 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms And Flooding |
| 2024 | Tropical Storm | Post-Tropical Cyclone Helene |
| 2022 | Flood | Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| 2022 | Severe Storm | Flooding And Mudslides |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2018 | Hurricane | Hurricane Florence |
| 2013 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
Showing the 10 most recent of 27 total declarations since 1977.
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 Low | 70.2 | 28 | 1 | $14.9M |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 48.1 | 11 | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 11.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Very Low | 9.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 46.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Very Low | 10.4 | 10 | 0 | $1K |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | 28 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 27.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 12.4 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | 70.3 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 24.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | No Rating | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Moderate | 96 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Relatively Low | 74.3 | — | — | — |
| 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
Buchanan County ranks in the 60th percentile (Moderate) 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 | 60th | Moderate |
| Socioeconomic status | 85th | High |
| Household characteristics | 50th | Moderate |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 2nd | Very low |
| Housing type & transportation | 44th | Low |
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 | 91st | Very High |
| Risk to homes | 88th | Very High |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 95.2% | — |
NOAA tracked 38 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 13 in 2016–20 vs 25 in 2021–25 (+92% — 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 Buchanan County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Buchanan County, Virginia are landslide, avalanche, and wildfire. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Buchanan County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Buchanan County has received 27 federal disaster declarations since 1977, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (8 declarations).
Has Buchanan County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Buchanan County include Severe Winter Storm (2026), Tropical Storm Helene (2025), Severe Winter Storms And Flooding (2025), Post-Tropical Cyclone Helene (2024). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1977.
How does Buchanan County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Pike County, KY has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and Dickenson County, VA has the lowest (Very Low). Buchanan County is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Buchanan County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Buchanan 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. Buchanan County's composite score of 51 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 51% of US counties.