Highland County, VA
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Highland County has experienced 22 federally declared disasters since 1977, most recently Severe Winter Storm in 2026. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Highland County's highest-rated hazards are landslide, avalanche, and drought, with its top risk rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Community vulnerability is relatively low (14th 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. Highland County has been designated in 22 declarations since 1977, covering 7 disaster types including hurricane (6), snowstorm (5), severe storm (5).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2018 | Hurricane | Hurricane Florence |
| 2016 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| 2013 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2013 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2012 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Straight-Line Winds |
| 2010 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storms And Snowstorms |
| 2010 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Showing the 10 most recent of 22 total declarations since 1977.
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 | 13.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Very Low | 11.7 | 10 | 0 | — |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 13.5 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 2.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Very Low | 3.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 42.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Very Low | 6.6 | 2 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | 7.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 12.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 3.4 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 23.9 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Very Low | 15.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Low | 61.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | 80.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 62.1 | — | — | — |
| 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
Highland County ranks in the 14th 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 | 14th | Very low |
| Socioeconomic status | 39th | Low |
| Household characteristics | 14th | Very low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 8th | Very 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 | 58th | Relatively Moderate |
| Risk to homes | 60th | Relatively High |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 97.3% | — |
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 Highland County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Highland County, Virginia are landslide, avalanche, and drought. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Highland County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Highland County has received 22 federal disaster declarations since 1977, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is hurricane (6 declarations).
Has Highland County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Highland County include Severe Winter Storm (2026). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1977.
How does Highland County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Augusta County, VA has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Bath County, VA has the lowest (Very Low). Highland County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Highland County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Highland 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. Highland County's composite score of 3 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 3% of US counties.