Hanover County, VA
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Hanover County has experienced 22 federally declared disasters since 1969, most recently Severe Winter Storm in 2026. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Hanover County's highest-rated hazards are drought, earthquake, and hurricane, with its top risk rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. NOAA records 51 storm events in the county over the past decade. Community vulnerability is relatively low (3rd 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. Hanover County has been designated in 22 declarations since 1969, covering 8 disaster types including hurricane (7), 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 |
| 2018 | Hurricane | Hurricane Florence |
| 2013 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2011 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irene |
| 2010 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Showing the 10 most recent of 22 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 | 31.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 61.5 | 32 | 0 | $30K |
| Coastal Flooding | Very Low | 25.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | 83.8 | 1 | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 58.2 | 1 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 51 | 3 | 0 | $45K |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | 74.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 36 | 13 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | 40.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 29.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | 60.7 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 5.3 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | 58 | 2 | 0 | $6K |
| Drought | Relatively High | 91 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 32.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 6.7 | — | — | — |
| 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
Hanover County ranks in the 3rd 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 | 3rd | Very low |
| Socioeconomic status | 2nd | Very low |
| Household characteristics | 7th | Very low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 49th | Low |
| Housing type & transportation | 8th | Very 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 | 27th | Relatively Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 70.9% | — |
NOAA tracked 51 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 26 in 2016–20 vs 25 in 2021–25 (-4% — relatively stable).
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 Hanover County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Hanover County, Virginia are drought, earthquake, and hurricane. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Hanover County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Hanover County has received 22 federal disaster declarations since 1969, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is hurricane (7 declarations).
Has Hanover County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Hanover County include Severe Winter Storm (2026). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1969.
How does Hanover County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Chesterfield County, VA has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and King William County, VA has the lowest (Very Low). Hanover County is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Hanover County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Hanover 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. Hanover County's composite score of 54 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 54% of US counties.