Salem, VA
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Salem has experienced 14 federally declared disasters since 1972, most recently Severe Winter Storm in 2026. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Salem's highest-rated hazards are hurricane, earthquake, and inland flooding, with its top risk rated "Very Low" by FEMA's National Risk Index.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Salem has been designated in 14 declarations since 1972, covering 6 disaster types including severe storm (3), hurricane (3), flood (3).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2018 | Hurricane | Hurricane Florence |
| 2013 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2012 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Straight-Line Winds |
| 2005 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding From The Remanants Of Hurricane Jeanne |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2003 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm, Record/Near Record Snowfall, Heavy Rain,Floodind, And Mudslide |
| 1996 | Snowstorm | Blizzard Of 96 (Severe Snow Storm) |
Showing the 10 most recent of 14 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 | 1.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 44.8 | 11 | 0 | $470K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 49 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 11.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Very Low | 12.6 | 1 | 0 | $1.2M |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 57.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Very Low | 12.7 | 3 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | 36.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 26.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 13.3 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 17.7 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 32.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | No Rating | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 27.4 | 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
Salem ranks in the 32nd percentile (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 | 32nd | Low |
| Socioeconomic status | 23rd | Very low |
| Household characteristics | 8th | Very low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 46th | Low |
| Housing type & transportation | 80th | 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 | 46th | Relatively Moderate |
| Risk to homes | 47th | Relatively Moderate |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 9.3% | — |
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 Salem?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Salem, Virginia are hurricane, earthquake, and inland flooding. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Salem received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Salem has received 14 federal disaster declarations since 1972, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (3 declarations).
Has Salem had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Salem include Severe Winter Storm (2026). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1972.
How does Salem's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Roanoke, VA has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Craig County, VA has the lowest (Very Low). Salem is rated Very Low overall.
How is Salem's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Salem'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. Salem's composite score of 19 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 19% of US counties.