Westmoreland County, VA
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Westmoreland County has experienced 25 federally declared disasters since 1969, most recently Severe Winter Storm in 2026. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Westmoreland County's highest-rated hazards are hurricane, drought, and coastal flooding, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have increased 41% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period. Community vulnerability is elevated (82nd 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. Westmoreland County has been designated in 25 declarations since 1969, covering 7 disaster types including hurricane (12), severe storm (4), snowstorm (3).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2022 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2019 | Hurricane | Tropical Storm Michael |
| 2018 | Hurricane | Hurricane Florence |
| 2013 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2013 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2012 | Severe Storm | The Remnants Of Tropical Storm Lee |
| 2011 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irene |
Showing the 10 most recent of 25 total declarations since 1969.
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 | 16.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Very Low | 29.7 | 27 | 0 | — |
| Coastal Flooding | Relatively Moderate | 64.8 | 8 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 47.5 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 38.2 | 1 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 26.9 | 2 | 0 | $905K |
| Hurricane | Relatively Moderate | 86.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Very Low | 29.5 | 3 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | 42.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 26.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | 39.6 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 11.8 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 28 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | 84.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 51.2 | 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
Westmoreland County ranks in the 82nd 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 | 82nd | High |
| Socioeconomic status | 93rd | High |
| Household characteristics | 90th | High |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 75th | High |
| Housing type & transportation | 26th | 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 | 27th | Relatively Low |
| Risk to homes | 28th | Relatively Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 69.0% | — |
NOAA tracked 41 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 17 in 2016–20 vs 24 in 2021–25 (+41% — 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 Westmoreland County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Westmoreland County, Virginia are hurricane, drought, and coastal flooding. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Westmoreland County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Westmoreland County has received 25 federal disaster declarations since 1969, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is hurricane (12 declarations).
Has Westmoreland County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Westmoreland County include Severe Winter Storm (2026). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1969.
How does Westmoreland County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Charles County, MD has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Richmond County, VA has the lowest (Very Low). Westmoreland County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Westmoreland County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Westmoreland County'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. Westmoreland County's composite score of 37 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 37% of US counties.