Goochland County, VA
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Goochland County has experienced 21 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.
Goochland County's highest-rated hazards are earthquake, drought, and hurricane, with its top risk rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Community vulnerability is relatively low (6th 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. Goochland County has been designated in 21 declarations since 1969, covering 9 disaster types including hurricane (6), severe storm (3), snowstorm (3).
| 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 |
| 2018 | Hurricane | Hurricane Florence |
| 2013 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2012 | Earthquake | Earthquake |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2003 | Hurricane | Hurricane Isabel |
Showing the 10 most recent of 21 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 | 9.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Very Low | 28.7 | 4 | 0 | — |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | 71.5 | 2 | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 28.7 | 1 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Very Low | 24.8 | 2 | 0 | $125K |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | 60.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Very Low | 13.1 | 1 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | 43 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 8.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | 32.6 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 4.4 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 25.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | 70.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 32.8 | 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
Goochland County ranks in the 6th 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 | 6th | Very low |
| Socioeconomic status | 0th | Very low |
| Household characteristics | 4th | Very low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 57th | Moderate |
| Housing type & transportation | 40th | 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 | 27th | Relatively Low |
| Risk to homes | 25th | Relatively Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 94.2% | — |
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 Goochland County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Goochland County, Virginia are earthquake, drought, and hurricane. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Goochland County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Goochland County has received 21 federal disaster declarations since 1969, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is hurricane (6 declarations).
Has Goochland County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Goochland County include Severe Winter Storm (2026). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1969.
How does Goochland County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Hanover County, VA has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Amelia County, VA has the lowest (Very Low). Goochland County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Goochland County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Goochland 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. Goochland County's composite score of 16 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 16% of US counties.