Dickenson County, VA
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Dickenson County has experienced 21 federally declared disasters since 1977, most recently Severe Winter Storm in 2026. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Dickenson County's highest-rated hazards are landslide, wildfire, and avalanche, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have increased 33% 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. Dickenson County has been designated in 21 declarations since 1977, covering 8 disaster types including severe storm (6), snowstorm (4), hurricane (3).
| 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 |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2018 | Hurricane | Hurricane Florence |
| 2013 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2010 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| 2006 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 21 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 | 83.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 37.6 | 34 | 0 | $312K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 36 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 6.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Very Low | 8.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 42.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Very Low | 9.7 | 8 | 0 | $15K |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 60 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 18.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 6 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 38.4 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Very Low | 13 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | No Rating | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Moderate | 93.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 65.8 | — | — | — |
| 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
Dickenson County ranks in the 46th 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 | 46th | Low |
| Socioeconomic status | 57th | Moderate |
| Household characteristics | 31st | Low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 0th | Very low |
| Housing type & transportation | 64th | Moderate |
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 | 89th | Very High |
| Risk to homes | 85th | Very High |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 94.5% | — |
NOAA tracked 42 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 18 in 2016–20 vs 24 in 2021–25 (+33% — 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 Dickenson County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Dickenson County, Virginia are landslide, wildfire, and avalanche. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Dickenson County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Dickenson County has received 21 federal disaster declarations since 1977, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (6 declarations).
Has Dickenson County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Dickenson 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 Dickenson 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 Norton, VA has the lowest (Very Low). Dickenson County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Dickenson County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Dickenson 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. Dickenson County's composite score of 18 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 18% of US counties.