Portsmouth, VA
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Portsmouth has experienced 18 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.
Portsmouth's highest-rated hazards are hurricane, winter weather, and heat wave, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Community vulnerability is elevated (84th 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. Portsmouth has been designated in 18 declarations since 1972, covering 7 disaster types including hurricane (10), biological (2), snowstorm (2).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2018 | Hurricane | Hurricane Florence |
| 2017 | Hurricane | Hurricane Matthew |
| 2013 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2011 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irene |
| 2011 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irene |
| 2010 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding Associated With Tropical Depression Ida And A Nor'East |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Showing the 10 most recent of 18 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 | 19.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 53.3 | 13 | 0 | $3.0M |
| Coastal Flooding | Relatively Moderate | 64.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | 64.9 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 74.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 51 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Relatively Moderate | 86.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 37.8 | 1 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | 38.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | 76 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | 58.4 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 48.4 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | 68 | 2 | 0 | $105K |
| Drought | No Rating | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 7.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Tsunami | Insufficient Data | — | — | — | — |
| 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
Portsmouth ranks in the 84th 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 | 84th | High |
| Socioeconomic status | 80th | High |
| Household characteristics | 60th | Moderate |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 94th | High |
| Housing type & transportation | 78th | High |
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 | 24th | Relatively Low |
| Risk to homes | 25th | Relatively Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 13.9% | — |
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 Portsmouth?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Portsmouth, Virginia are hurricane, winter weather, and heat wave. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Portsmouth received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Portsmouth has received 18 federal disaster declarations since 1972, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is hurricane (10 declarations).
Has Portsmouth had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Portsmouth include Severe Winter Storm (2026). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1972.
How does Portsmouth's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Norfolk, VA has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and Poquoson, VA has the lowest (Very Low). Portsmouth is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Portsmouth's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Portsmouth'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. Portsmouth's composite score of 54 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 54% of US counties.