Essex County, VA
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Essex County has experienced 27 federally declared disasters since 1969, most recently Severe Winter Storm in 2026. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Essex County's highest-rated hazards are drought, hurricane, and coastal flooding, with its top risk rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Community vulnerability is elevated (83rd percentile nationally), suggesting residents may face greater difficulty recovering from major disasters.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Essex County has been designated in 27 declarations since 1969, covering 9 disaster types including hurricane (11), severe storm (4), snowstorm (4).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2022 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2019 | Hurricane | Tropical Storm Michael |
| 2018 | Hurricane | Hurricane Florence |
| 2013 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2013 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2012 | Severe Storm | The Remnants Of Tropical Storm Lee |
Showing the 10 most recent of 27 total declarations since 1969.
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 | 10.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Very Low | 10.4 | 8 | 0 | — |
| Coastal Flooding | Relatively Low | 55.6 | 4 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 43.2 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 27.7 | 1 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Very Low | 22.9 | 1 | 0 | $4.5M |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | 80 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Very Low | 16.5 | 3 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | 22.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 10.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | 30.6 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 6.7 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Very Low | 15.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively High | 94.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 40.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Tsunami | Insufficient Data | — | — | — | — |
| 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
Essex County ranks in the 83rd percentile (High) 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 | 83rd | High |
| Socioeconomic status | 96th | High |
| Household characteristics | 60th | Moderate |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 84th | High |
| Housing type & transportation | 43rd | 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 | 26th | Relatively Low |
| Risk to homes | 27th | Relatively Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 73.4% | — |
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 Essex County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Essex County, Virginia are drought, hurricane, and coastal flooding. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Essex County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Essex County has received 27 federal disaster declarations since 1969, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is hurricane (11 declarations).
Has Essex County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Essex County include Severe Winter Storm (2026). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1969.
How does Essex County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Westmoreland County, VA has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Very Low) and King William County, VA has the lowest (Very Low). Essex County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Essex County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Essex 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. Essex County's composite score of 19 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 19% of US counties.