Chesapeake, VA
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Chesapeake has experienced 18 federally declared disasters since 1972, most recently Severe Winter Storm in 2026. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Chesapeake's highest-rated hazards are hurricane, heat wave, and inland flooding, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. NOAA records 60 storm events in the county over the past decade.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Chesapeake has been designated in 18 declarations since 1972, covering 7 disaster types including hurricane (10), biological (2), snowstorm (2).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2018 | Hurricane | Hurricane Florence |
| 2017 | Hurricane | Hurricane Matthew |
| 2013 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2011 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irene |
| 2011 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irene |
| 2010 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding Associated With Tropical Depression Ida And A Nor'East |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Showing the 10 most recent of 18 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 | Relatively Low | 66.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Moderate | 82.9 | 27 | 0 | $20.7M |
| Coastal Flooding | Relatively Moderate | 80.6 | 7 | 0 | $70K |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | 71.1 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate | 88.1 | 2 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | 71.8 | 4 | 0 | $4.1M |
| Hurricane | Relatively Moderate | 92 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 61.4 | 16 | 0 | $1K |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | 9.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 36.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | 46.5 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 45.6 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 53.8 | 4 | 3 | $1.1M |
| Drought | Relatively Low | 40.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 29.6 | 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
Chesapeake ranks in the 41st 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 | 41st | Low |
| Socioeconomic status | 32nd | Low |
| Household characteristics | 61st | Moderate |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 83rd | High |
| Housing type & transportation | 25th | 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 | 51st | Relatively Moderate |
| Risk to homes | 58th | Relatively Moderate |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 34.8% | — |
NOAA tracked 60 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 31 in 2016–20 vs 29 in 2021–25 (-6% — relatively stable).
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 Chesapeake?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Chesapeake, Virginia are hurricane, heat wave, and inland flooding. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Chesapeake received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Chesapeake has received 18 federal disaster declarations since 1972, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is hurricane (10 declarations).
Has Chesapeake had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Chesapeake include Severe Winter Storm (2026). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1972.
How does Chesapeake's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Norfolk, VA has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and Camden County, NC has the lowest (Very Low). Chesapeake is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Chesapeake's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Chesapeake'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. Chesapeake's composite score of 81 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 81% of US counties.