Halifax County, VA
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Halifax County has experienced 27 federally declared disasters since 1972, most recently Severe Winter Storm in 2026. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Halifax County's highest-rated hazards are drought, hurricane, and lightning, with its top risk rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have decreased 57% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period. Community vulnerability is elevated (77th 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. Halifax County has been designated in 27 declarations since 1972, covering 8 disaster types including hurricane (8), severe storm (7), snowstorm (5).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2025 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms And Flooding |
| 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2019 | Hurricane | Tropical Storm Michael |
| 2019 | Hurricane | Hurricane Florence |
| 2018 | Hurricane | Hurricane Florence |
| 2013 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2012 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Straight-Line Winds |
Showing the 10 most recent of 27 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 | 25.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 54.4 | 62 | 0 | $3.8M |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | 63.3 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 48 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 34.3 | 3 | 0 | $615K |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | 78.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 50.1 | 32 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 72.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | 64.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | 49.5 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 14.7 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | 74.6 | 6 | 0 | $55K |
| Drought | Relatively High | 92.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 48.1 | 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
Halifax County ranks in the 77th 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 | 77th | High |
| Socioeconomic status | 70th | Moderate |
| Household characteristics | 84th | High |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 79th | High |
| Housing type & transportation | 57th | 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 | 28th | Relatively Low |
| Risk to homes | 27th | Relatively Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 91.0% | — |
NOAA tracked 103 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 72 in 2016–20 vs 31 in 2021–25 (-57% — 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 Halifax County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Halifax County, Virginia are drought, hurricane, and lightning. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Halifax County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Halifax County has received 27 federal disaster declarations since 1972, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is hurricane (8 declarations).
Has Halifax County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Halifax County include Severe Winter Storm (2026), Severe Winter Storms And Flooding (2025). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1972.
How does Halifax County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Danville, VA has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Charlotte County, VA has the lowest (Very Low). Halifax County is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Halifax County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Halifax 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. Halifax County's composite score of 47 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 47% of US counties.