Giles County, VA
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Giles County has experienced 22 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.
Giles County's highest-rated hazards are landslide, avalanche, and earthquake, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have decreased 30% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period. Community vulnerability is relatively low (10th percentile nationally), indicating stronger recovery capacity than most US counties.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Giles County has been designated in 22 declarations since 1972, covering 8 disaster types including severe storm (6), hurricane (4), snowstorm (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 |
| 2012 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Straight-Line Winds |
| 2005 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding From The Remanants Of Hurricane Jeanne |
Showing the 10 most recent of 22 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 | 12.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 42.2 | 34 | 0 | $1.1M |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 43.2 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | No Rating | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Very Low | 10.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 36.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Very Low | 13.8 | 9 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | 17.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 31.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 11.6 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 34.1 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 30.7 | 1 | 0 | $10K |
| Drought | Very Low | 22.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Moderate | 87.8 | 2 | 0 | $15K |
| Avalanche | Relatively Low | 68.9 | — | — | — |
| 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
Giles County ranks in the 10th percentile (Very 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 | 10th | Very low |
| Socioeconomic status | 13th | Very low |
| Household characteristics | 10th | Very low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 8th | Very low |
| Housing type & transportation | 33rd | 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 | 57th | Relatively Moderate |
| Risk to homes | 56th | Relatively Moderate |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 74.4% | — |
NOAA tracked 46 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 27 in 2016–20 vs 19 in 2021–25 (-30% — frequency decreasing).
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 Giles County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Giles County, Virginia are landslide, avalanche, and earthquake. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Giles County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Giles County has received 22 federal disaster declarations since 1972, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (6 declarations).
Has Giles County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Giles 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 1972.
How does Giles County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Mercer County, WV has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Radford, VA has the lowest (Very Low). Giles County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Giles County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Giles 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. Giles County's composite score of 17 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 17% of US counties.