Appomattox County, Virginia
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Appomattox County, Virginia has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 95% of US counties. It ranks 122nd of 133 counties in Virginia. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and hurricanes. FEMA estimates about $3.2 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $197 per resident. Since 1972 it has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (17 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). Only 7 homes here carry federal flood insurance.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Appomattox County
- Check the FEMA flood map for your address, and ask the seller or landlord about past flooding.
- Price a flood policy now. Most new federal policies take 30 days to start.
- Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
- Know how to shut off the main water valve.
- Know your evacuation zone and route before June 1.
- Ask about roof age, shutters and the separate wind or hurricane deductible on your home policy.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 14.7 | $2M | ||
| Cold wave | 21.8 | $266K | ||
| Hurricane | 61.0 | $236K | ||
| Strong wind | 23.8 | $226K | ||
| Earthquake | 41.2 | $169K | ||
| Tornado | 15.1 | $149K | ||
| Drought | 44.7 | $102K | ||
| Lightning | 22.5 | $80K | ||
| Heat wave | 20.1 | $64K | ||
| Hail | 6.9 | $20K | ||
| Ice storm | 22.1 | $20K | ||
| Wildfire | 21.3 | $9K | ||
| Winter weather | 8.6 | $6K | ||
| Landslide | 39.0 | $629 | ||
| Avalanche | 21.9 | $47 |
Scores are percentiles: a score of 90 means higher risk than about 90% of US counties for that hazard. Hazards FEMA does not rate here are left out. Social vulnerability is relatively low and community resilience is relatively moderate in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Appomattox County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 24
Virginia also had 6 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1951
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 274 storm reports in Appomattox County since 1951, with 1 death and 7 injuries and about $13.1 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF3 tornado on February 24, 2016 near Spring Mills.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 24, 2016 | EF3 | Spring Mills | 7 / 1 |
| May 8, 2008 | EF1 | Hixburg | 0 / 0 |
| Feb 1, 1951 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 24, 2016 | Tornado | Spring Mills | $11M |
| Sep 6, 1996 | Flash Flood | Countywide | $1M |
| Jun 29, 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | Spout Spg | $150K |
| Jan 28, 1998 | Flash Flood | Oakville | $100K |
| Oct 11, 2018 | Flash Flood | Appomattox | $69K |
| Apr 19, 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | Appomattox | $50K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 22, 2026. Tornado records start in 1950, hail and wind in 1955, and floods and other storm types in 1996, so older decades undercount. Damage is in dollars of the year it happened and is often an estimate. Winter storms, heat and hurricanes are logged by forecast zone, not county, so they are not counted here.
Hurricanes and tropical storms
Hurricane risk by county ›Since 1859, 2 hurricanes and 16 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Appomattox County, 5 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1893, with top winds near 85 mph about 44 miles away.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 13, 1893 | Unnamed | Category 1, 85 mph | 44 mi |
| Sep 30, 1896 | Unnamed | Category 1, 75 mph | 29 mi |
| Sep 19, 2003 | Isabel | Tropical storm, 70 mph | 56 mi |
| Aug 28, 1893 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 70 mph | 59 mi |
| Oct 31, 1899 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 62 mi |
| Aug 17, 1955 | Diane | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 60 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 19, 2003 | Isabel | Tropical storm, 70 mph | 56 mi |
| Sep 6, 1996 | Fran | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 64 mi |
| Sep 5, 1979 | David | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 63 mi |
| Aug 17, 1955 | Diane | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 60 mi |
| Sep 1, 1952 | Able | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 52 mi |
| Aug 29, 1949 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 57 mi |
Source: NOAA National Hurricane Center best-track records (HURDAT2), 1851 to 2025 for the Atlantic and 1949 to 2025 for the eastern Pacific. A storm counts if its track passed within 65 miles of the county's center while it was a tropical storm or hurricane. Strength is the storm's top sustained wind at that point, not the wind measured in the county. Older storms over the open sea were sometimes missed.
Flood insurance in Appomattox County
Check your address flood zone ›National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) records only; private flood policies are not included. Home counts as of Aug 3, 2026. Since 2021 NFIP prices each home separately under Risk Rating 2.0, so your price depends on the building, not the county. Ask an agent for a quote.
Homes in Appomattox County
Older homes and mobile homes usually suffer more damage in storms, floods and earthquakes, and can cost more to insure. If you are buying, ask about roof age, foundation bolting and any retrofits. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 5-year estimates; 7,459 housing units.
Compare in Virginia
All 133 ›| Largest counties | Overall risk | Top hazard |
|---|---|---|
| Fairfax County | Inland flooding | |
| Prince William County | Inland flooding | |
| Virginia Beach City | Hurricane | |
| Loudoun County | Inland flooding | |
| Chesterfield County | Inland flooding | |
| Henrico County | Inland flooding | |
| Chesapeake City | Inland flooding | |
| Arlington County | Inland flooding |
Neighboring counties
| County | Overall risk | Declarations |
|---|---|---|
| Campbell County | 22 | |
| Amherst County | 21 | |
| Prince Edward County | 20 | |
| Buckingham County | 21 | |
| Nelson County | 26 | |
| Charlotte County | 20 |
Common questions about Appomattox County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Appomattox County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Appomattox County, about $1.8 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $266,043.
How many federal disasters has Appomattox County had?
Appomattox County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1972, including 17 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.
Is Appomattox County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 122nd highest of 133 in Virginia. A county rating covers the whole area. Risk at one address can be much higher or lower, so check the FEMA flood map and ask about the home's history.
Do I need flood insurance in Appomattox County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 1000 homes in Appomattox County has federal flood insurance. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.
How many tornadoes has Appomattox County had?
NOAA records list 3 tornadoes in Appomattox County since 1950. The strongest was an EF3 tornado on February 24, 2016 near Spring Mills. The weather service has also logged 38 hail reports and 41 floods here.
How many hurricanes have hit Appomattox County?
NOAA's hurricane records show 2 hurricanes and 16 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Appomattox County. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1893, with winds near 85 mph.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025), OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, and NFIP policy and claims data. Hazard Compass is independent and not affiliated with FEMA. These figures describe the whole county, not a single property, and are not insurance or safety advice. Report a problem.