Suffolk, VA
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Suffolk 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.
Suffolk's highest-rated hazards are drought, winter weather, and hurricane, with its top risk rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have increased 50% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Suffolk has been designated in 19 declarations since 1972, covering 7 disaster types including hurricane (11), 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 |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2003 | Hurricane | Hurricane Isabel |
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 | 55.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 54 | 19 | 0 | $1.4M |
| Coastal Flooding | Relatively Moderate | 61 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 54 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 71.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 55.7 | 8 | 0 | $4.9M |
| Hurricane | Relatively Moderate | 88.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 48.2 | 7 | 0 | $2K |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 60.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively High | 91.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | 60 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 43.8 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | 62.9 | 1 | 0 | $15K |
| Drought | Relatively High | 93.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 37.5 | 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
Suffolk ranks in the 48th 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 | 48th | Low |
| Socioeconomic status | 47th | Low |
| Household characteristics | 46th | Low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 88th | High |
| Housing type & transportation | 28th | 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 | 38th | Relatively Low |
| Risk to homes | 40th | Relatively Moderate |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 55.7% | — |
NOAA tracked 35 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 14 in 2016–20 vs 21 in 2021–25 (+50% — frequency increasing).
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 Suffolk?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Suffolk, Virginia are drought, winter weather, and hurricane. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Suffolk received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Suffolk has received 19 federal disaster declarations since 1972, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is hurricane (11 declarations).
Has Suffolk had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Suffolk include Severe Winter Storm (2026). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1972.
How does Suffolk's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Chesapeake, VA has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Franklin, VA has the lowest (Very Low). Suffolk is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Suffolk's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Suffolk'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. Suffolk's composite score of 60 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 60% of US counties.