Henry County, VA
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Henry County has experienced 16 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.
Henry County's highest-rated hazards are landslide, inland flooding, and ice storm, with its top risk rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have decreased 60% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period. Community vulnerability is elevated (78th 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. Henry County has been designated in 16 declarations since 1972, covering 7 disaster types including hurricane (5), severe storm (4), biological (2).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2019 | Hurricane | Hurricane Florence |
| 2018 | Hurricane | Hurricane Florence |
| 2013 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2006 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2003 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm, Record/Near Record Snowfall, Heavy Rain,Floodind, And Mudslide |
| 2000 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
Showing the 10 most recent of 16 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 | 22.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Moderate | 76.6 | 28 | 0 | $11.2M |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | 67.9 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 37.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 43.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | 74.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 49.4 | 19 | 0 | $18K |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 64.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 53.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | 74.6 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 60.6 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 56.6 | 5 | 0 | $61K |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | 67.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | 86.6 | 4 | 0 | $500K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 7.6 | — | — | — |
| 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
Henry County ranks in the 78th 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 | 78th | High |
| Socioeconomic status | 76th | High |
| Household characteristics | 76th | High |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 68th | Moderate |
| Housing type & transportation | 65th | 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 | 26th | Relatively Low |
| Risk to homes | 25th | Relatively Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 87.8% | — |
NOAA tracked 56 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 40 in 2016–20 vs 16 in 2021–25 (-60% — 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 Henry County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Henry County, Virginia are landslide, inland flooding, and ice storm. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Henry County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Henry County has received 16 federal disaster declarations since 1972, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is hurricane (5 declarations).
Has Henry County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Henry County include Severe Winter Storm (2026). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1972.
How does Henry County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Rockingham County, NC has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Floyd County, VA has the lowest (Very Low). Henry County is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Henry County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Henry 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. Henry County's composite score of 64 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 64% of US counties.