Virginia Beach, VA
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Virginia Beach 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.
Virginia Beach's highest-rated hazards are heat wave, hurricane, and lightning, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have increased 139% 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. Virginia Beach 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 | 55.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Very Low | 27.9 | 58 | 0 | $5.0M |
| Coastal Flooding | Relatively Moderate | 67.4 | 19 | 0 | $105K |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | 67.5 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate | 91.7 | 1 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | 66.7 | 2 | 0 | $24.0M |
| Hurricane | Relatively Moderate | 88.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 54.7 | 13 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | 14.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 37.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | 43.1 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 56.1 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively High | 86.5 | 2 | 0 | $12K |
| Drought | Very Low | 22 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 15.7 | 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
Virginia Beach ranks in the 31st 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 | 31st | Low |
| Socioeconomic status | 27th | Low |
| Household characteristics | 35th | Low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 78th | High |
| Housing type & transportation | 24th | Very 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 | 59th | Relatively Moderate |
| Risk to homes | 70th | Relatively High |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 20.6% | — |
NOAA tracked 95 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 28 in 2016–20 vs 67 in 2021–25 (+139% — 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 Virginia Beach?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Virginia Beach, Virginia are heat wave, hurricane, and lightning. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Virginia Beach received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Virginia Beach has received 18 federal disaster declarations since 1972, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is hurricane (10 declarations).
Has Virginia Beach had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Virginia Beach include Severe Winter Storm (2026). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1972.
How does Virginia Beach'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). Virginia Beach is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Virginia Beach's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Virginia Beach'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. Virginia Beach's composite score of 58 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 58% of US counties.