Richmond, VA
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Richmond has experienced 20 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.
Richmond's highest-rated hazards are earthquake, heat wave, and inland flooding, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. NOAA records 71 storm events in the county over the past decade. Community vulnerability is elevated (83rd 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. Richmond has been designated in 20 declarations since 1972, covering 7 disaster types including hurricane (8), snowstorm (3), severe storm (3).
| 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 |
| 2011 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irene |
| 2011 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irene |
| 2006 | Severe Storm | Tropical Depression Ernesto, Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Showing the 10 most recent of 20 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 | 18 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Moderate | 82.6 | 61 | 0 | $15K |
| Coastal Flooding | Very Low | 39.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Moderate | 92.7 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate | 88.3 | 1 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | 66.8 | 5 | 0 | $35K |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | 79.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 59.4 | 3 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | 29.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 53.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | 59.6 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 54.5 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | 57.7 | 1 | 0 | $10K |
| Drought | No Rating | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 21 | 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
Richmond ranks in the 83rd 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 | 83rd | High |
| Socioeconomic status | 86th | High |
| Household characteristics | 30th | Low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 91st | High |
| Housing type & transportation | 88th | 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 | 18th | Very Low |
| Risk to homes | 17th | Very Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 20.5% | — |
NOAA tracked 71 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 9 in 2016–20 vs 62 in 2021–25 .
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 Richmond?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Richmond, Virginia are earthquake, heat wave, and inland flooding. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Richmond received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Richmond has received 20 federal disaster declarations since 1972, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is hurricane (8 declarations).
Has Richmond had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Richmond include Severe Winter Storm (2026). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1972.
How does Richmond's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Chesterfield County, VA has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and Colonial Heights, VA has the lowest (Very Low). Richmond is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Richmond's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Richmond'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. Richmond's composite score of 78 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 78% of US counties.