Wise County, VA
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Wise County has experienced 19 federally declared disasters since 1977, most recently Severe Winter Storm in 2026. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Wise County's highest-rated hazards are landslide, wildfire, and cold wave, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have increased 55% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period. Community vulnerability is elevated (80th 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. Wise County has been designated in 19 declarations since 1977, covering 7 disaster types including severe storm (6), snowstorm (4), hurricane (3).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2025 | Tropical Storm | Tropical Storm Helene |
| 2025 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms And Flooding |
| 2024 | Tropical Storm | Post-Tropical Cyclone Helene |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2018 | Hurricane | Hurricane Florence |
| 2013 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2010 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Showing the 10 most recent of 19 total declarations since 1977.
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 | Relatively Low | 84.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 66.3 | 26 | 0 | $219K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 57.8 | 1 | — | — |
| Heat Wave | No Rating | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Very Low | 21.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 48.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Very Low | 19.3 | 2 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 54.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | 65.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 12.2 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | 75.5 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Very Low | 19.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Very Low | 30.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Moderate | 88.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Relatively Low | 69 | — | — | — |
| 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
Wise County ranks in the 80th 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 | 80th | High |
| Socioeconomic status | 88th | High |
| Household characteristics | 54th | Moderate |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 26th | Low |
| Housing type & transportation | 89th | 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 | 89th | Very High |
| Risk to homes | 85th | Very High |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 64.8% | — |
NOAA tracked 28 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 11 in 2016–20 vs 17 in 2021–25 (+55% — 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 Wise County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Wise County, Virginia are landslide, wildfire, and cold wave. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Wise County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Wise County has received 19 federal disaster declarations since 1977, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (6 declarations).
Has Wise County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Wise County include Severe Winter Storm (2026), Tropical Storm Helene (2025), Severe Winter Storms And Flooding (2025), Post-Tropical Cyclone Helene (2024). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1977.
How does Wise County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Letcher County, KY has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Norton, VA has the lowest (Very Low). Wise County is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Wise County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Wise 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. Wise County's composite score of 50 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 50% of US counties.