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Appomattox County, Virginia

Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.

Very Low overall risk
122nd of 133highest risk in Virginia
$3Mexpected losses a year
24federal declarations
1 in 1000homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

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

$1.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • 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.

Cold wave

Very Low
$266,043 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
$236,025 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 15 years.
  • 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low14.7
$2M
Cold waveVery Low21.8
$266K
HurricaneLow61.0
$236K
Strong windLow23.8
$226K
EarthquakeVery Low41.2
$169K
TornadoVery Low15.1
$149K
DroughtLow44.7
$102K
LightningVery Low22.5
$80K
Heat waveVery Low20.1
$64K
HailVery Low6.9
$20K
Ice stormVery Low22.1
$20K
WildfireVery Low21.3
$9K
Winter weatherVery Low8.6
$6K
LandslideVery Low39.0
$629
AvalancheVery Low21.9
$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

Severe Storm6
Hurricane6
Snowstorm4
Flood3
Drought2
Severe Ice Storm1

Most recent

Jan 23, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
Apr 4, 2025Severe Winter Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 1, 2024Tropical Storm HeleneMajor disaster
Mar 11, 2022Severe Winter Storm and SnowstormMajor disaster
May 10, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Dec 18, 2018Tropical Storm MichaelMajor disaster
Sep 11, 2018Hurricane FlorenceEmergency
Oct 29, 2012Hurricane SandyEmergency
Jul 27, 2012Severe Storms and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Apr 27, 2010Severe Winter Storms and SnowstormsMajor disaster
Show all 24
Sep 12, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Sep 18, 2003Hurricane IsabelMajor disaster
Mar 27, 2003Severe Winter Storm, Record/Near Record Snowfall, Heavy Rain,Floodind, and MudslideMajor disaster
Feb 28, 2000Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Sep 6, 1996Hurricane Fran and Associated Severe Storm CondMajor disaster
Jan 13, 1996Blizzard of 96 (Severe Snow Storm)Major disaster
Apr 11, 1994Severe Winter Ice StormMajor disaster
Mar 10, 1994Severe Ice Storms, FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 25, 1993Severe Winter StormEmergency
Nov 9, 1985Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 23, 1977DroughtEmergency
Oct 15, 1976DroughtEmergency
Oct 10, 1972Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 23, 1972Tropical Storm AgnesMajor disaster

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.

3tornadoes
38hail reports, largest 2 inches
182damaging thunderstorm winds
41floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Feb 24, 2016EF3Spring Mills7 / 1
May 8, 2008EF1Hixburg0 / 0
Feb 1, 1951F1–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Feb 24, 2016TornadoSpring Mills$11M
Sep 6, 1996Flash FloodCountywide$1M
Jun 29, 2012Thunderstorm WindSpout Spg$150K
Jan 28, 1998Flash FloodOakville$100K
Oct 11, 2018Flash FloodAppomattox$69K
Apr 19, 2013Thunderstorm WindAppomattox$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.

2hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
16tropical storms
2003most recent: Isabel

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 13, 1893UnnamedCategory 1, 85 mph44 mi
Sep 30, 1896UnnamedCategory 1, 75 mph29 mi
Sep 19, 2003IsabelTropical storm, 70 mph56 mi
Aug 28, 1893UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph59 mi
Oct 31, 1899UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph62 mi
Aug 17, 1955DianeTropical storm, 60 mph60 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 19, 2003IsabelTropical storm, 70 mph56 mi
Sep 6, 1996FranTropical storm, 50 mph64 mi
Sep 5, 1979DavidTropical storm, 45 mph63 mi
Aug 17, 1955DianeTropical storm, 60 mph60 mi
Sep 1, 1952AbleTropical storm, 50 mph52 mi
Aug 29, 1949UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph57 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 ›
0.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (7 policies)
13.2%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$256,136paid on 9 flood claims since 1978
1987costliest year, with $117,433 paid

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

$207,600median home value (Virginia $383,700, US $332,700)
1981median year homes were built (Virginia 1984, US 1980)
49%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
14.6%of homes are mobile homes, which are the least safe in tornadoes and high winds

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 countiesOverall riskTop hazard
Fairfax CountyHighInland flooding
Prince William CountyModerateInland flooding
Virginia Beach CityLowHurricane
Loudoun CountyLowInland flooding
Chesterfield CountyModerateInland flooding
Henrico CountyModerateInland flooding
Chesapeake CityLowInland flooding
Arlington CountyLowInland flooding

Neighboring counties

CountyOverall riskDeclarations
Campbell CountyVery Low22
Amherst CountyVery Low21
Prince Edward CountyVery Low20
Buckingham CountyVery Low21
Nelson CountyVery Low26
Charlotte CountyVery Low20

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.