Charlottesville, VA
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Charlottesville has experienced 13 federally declared disasters since 1972, most recently Severe Winter Storm in 2026. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Charlottesville's highest-rated hazards are strong wind, earthquake, and hurricane, with its top risk rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Charlottesville has been designated in 13 declarations since 1972, covering 6 disaster types including hurricane (5), snowstorm (3), biological (2).
| 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 Storm And Snowstorm |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2003 | Hurricane | Hurricane Isabel |
| 1996 | Hurricane | Hurricane Fran And Associated Severe Storm Cond |
Showing the 10 most recent of 13 total declarations since 1972.
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 | 0.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Very Low | 33.3 | 5 | 0 | — |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | 70.9 | 1 | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 63.9 | 8 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Very Low | 24.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | 69.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Very Low | 25.7 | 1 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively High | 84.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 32.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 25.7 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 8.4 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 50.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | No Rating | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 16.3 | 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
Charlottesville ranks in the 57th 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 | 57th | Moderate |
| Socioeconomic status | 65th | Moderate |
| Household characteristics | 3rd | Very low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 72nd | Moderate |
| Housing type & transportation | 86th | 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 | 23rd | Relatively Low |
| Risk to homes | 24th | Relatively Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 23.0% | — |
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 Charlottesville?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Charlottesville, Virginia are strong wind, earthquake, and hurricane. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Charlottesville received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Charlottesville has received 13 federal disaster declarations since 1972, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is hurricane (5 declarations).
Has Charlottesville had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Charlottesville include Severe Winter Storm (2026). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1972.
How does Charlottesville's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Albemarle County, VA has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Madison County, VA has the lowest (Very Low). Charlottesville is rated Very Low overall.
How is Charlottesville's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Charlottesville'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. Charlottesville's composite score of 24 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 24% of US counties.