Roanoke, VA
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Roanoke has experienced 19 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.
Roanoke's highest-rated hazards are strong wind, inland flooding, and lightning, with its top risk rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. NOAA records 31 storm events in the county over the past decade. Community vulnerability is elevated (85th 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. Roanoke has been designated in 19 declarations since 1972, covering 7 disaster types including hurricane (4), severe storm (4), snowstorm (4).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2025 | Tropical Storm | Tropical Storm Helene |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2019 | Hurricane | Hurricane Florence |
| 2018 | Hurricane | Hurricane Florence |
| 2013 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2012 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Straight-Line Winds |
| 2010 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| 2005 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding From The Remanants Of Hurricane Jeanne |
Showing the 10 most recent of 19 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 | 8.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Moderate | 84.1 | 26 | 1 | $691K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | 74.7 | 1 | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 30.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 33 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | 74.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 47.2 | 2 | 0 | $10K |
| Strong Wind | Relatively High | 88.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | 73.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | 36.5 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 58.7 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | 81.1 | 2 | 0 | $404K |
| Drought | No Rating | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 62.1 | 1 | 0 | $25K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 18.6 | — | — | — |
| 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
Roanoke ranks in the 85th 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 | 85th | High |
| Socioeconomic status | 87th | High |
| Household characteristics | 66th | Moderate |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 81st | High |
| Housing type & transportation | 76th | 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 | 40th | Relatively Moderate |
| Risk to homes | 39th | Relatively Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 7.7% | — |
NOAA tracked 31 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 16 in 2016–20 vs 15 in 2021–25 (-6% — 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 Roanoke?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Roanoke, Virginia are strong wind, inland flooding, and lightning. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Roanoke received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Roanoke has received 19 federal disaster declarations since 1972, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is hurricane (4 declarations).
Has Roanoke had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Roanoke include Severe Winter Storm (2026), Tropical Storm Helene (2025). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1972.
How does Roanoke's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Roanoke County, VA has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Craig County, VA has the lowest (Very Low). Roanoke is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Roanoke's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Roanoke'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. Roanoke's composite score of 73 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 73% of US counties.