Wythe County, VA
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Wythe County has experienced 18 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.
Wythe County's highest-rated hazards are cold wave, landslide, and strong wind, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have decreased 64% 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. Wythe County has been designated in 18 declarations since 1977, covering 8 disaster types including severe storm (4), hurricane (3), snowstorm (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 |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2003 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm, Record/Near Record Snowfall, Heavy Rain,Floodind, And Mudslide |
Showing the 10 most recent of 18 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 | Very Low | 21.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 50.3 | 20 | 0 | $1.2M |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | 61 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | No Rating | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Very Low | 14.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | 58.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Very Low | 28.7 | 12 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 70.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 34.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 26.8 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | 88.7 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 37.2 | 1 | 0 | $200 |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | 66.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | 84.4 | 1 | 0 | $8K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 48.5 | — | — | — |
| 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
Wythe County ranks in the 41st 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 | 41st | Low |
| Socioeconomic status | 38th | Low |
| Household characteristics | 72nd | Moderate |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 13th | Very low |
| Housing type & transportation | 40th | 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 | 58th | Relatively Moderate |
| Risk to homes | 56th | Relatively Moderate |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 82.0% | — |
NOAA tracked 34 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 25 in 2016–20 vs 9 in 2021–25 (-64% — frequency decreasing).
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 Wythe County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Wythe County, Virginia are cold wave, landslide, and strong wind. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Wythe County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Wythe County has received 18 federal disaster declarations since 1977, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (4 declarations).
Has Wythe County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Wythe 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 Wythe County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Smyth County, VA has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Galax, VA has the lowest (Very Low). Wythe County is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Wythe County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Wythe 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. Wythe County's composite score of 49 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 49% of US counties.