Colonial Heights, VA
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Colonial Heights has experienced 15 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.
Colonial Heights's highest-rated hazards are hurricane, coastal flooding, and earthquake, with its top risk rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA's National Risk Index.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Colonial Heights has been designated in 15 declarations since 1972, covering 7 disaster types including hurricane (6), 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 |
| 2013 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2011 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irene |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2004 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding And Tornadoes Associated W Td Gaston |
| 2003 | Hurricane | Hurricane Isabel |
| 2000 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
Showing the 10 most recent of 15 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 | 1.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Very Low | 19.6 | 14 | 0 | $65K |
| Coastal Flooding | Very Low | 43 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 41.1 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 29.3 | 3 | 2 | — |
| Tornado | Very Low | 21.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | 59 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Very Low | 5.2 | 1 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | 9.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 23 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | 28.5 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 3.4 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Very Low | 13.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | No Rating | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 1.4 | 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
Colonial Heights 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 | 48th | Low |
| Household characteristics | 94th | High |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 68th | Moderate |
| Housing type & transportation | 19th | Very 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 | 25th | Relatively Low |
| Risk to homes | 25th | Relatively Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 14.9% | — |
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 Colonial Heights?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Colonial Heights, Virginia are hurricane, coastal flooding, and earthquake. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Colonial Heights received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Colonial Heights has received 15 federal disaster declarations since 1972, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is hurricane (6 declarations).
Has Colonial Heights had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Colonial Heights include Severe Winter Storm (2026). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1972.
How does Colonial Heights's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Chesterfield County, VA has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and Prince George County, VA has the lowest (Very Low). Colonial Heights is rated Very Low overall.
How is Colonial Heights's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Colonial Heights'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. Colonial Heights's composite score of 6 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 6% of US counties.