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Bland County, Virginia

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

Very Low overall risk
98th of 133highest risk in Virginia
$5Mexpected losses a year
16federal declarations
1 in 91homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Bland County, Virginia has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 87% of US counties. It ranks 98th of 133 counties in Virginia. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and drought. FEMA estimates about $5.0 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $798 per resident. Since 1976 it has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (9 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). Only 43 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $950,000 on 50 claims here.

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.

Top risks in Bland County

$3.1 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.
$1.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 5 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
$140,488 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low29.5
$3M
Cold waveLow64.1
$2M
DroughtLow51.0
$140K
Strong windVery Low9.0
$59K
EarthquakeVery Low27.5
$52K
LandslideLow85.1
$27K
LightningVery Low8.4
$25K
TornadoVery Low5.0
$17K
HurricaneVery Low33.6
$17K
HailVery Low5.8
$14K
Winter weatherVery Low13.0
$10K
Ice stormVery Low7.0
$3K
WildfireVery Low6.4
$2K
AvalancheVery Low55.1
$834

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 moderate and community resilience is very low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

Federal declarations for natural events that included Bland County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm4
Snowstorm3
Hurricane3
Flood2
Tropical Storm2
Drought1

Most recent

Jan 23, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
Apr 4, 2025Severe Winter Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 1, 2024Tropical Storm HeleneMajor disaster
Sep 29, 2024Post-Tropical Cyclone HeleneEmergency
Sep 11, 2018Hurricane FlorenceEmergency
Oct 29, 2012Hurricane SandyEmergency
Jul 27, 2012Severe Storms and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Sep 12, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Dec 9, 2003Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 28, 2000Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Show all 16
Jan 27, 1996Flooding, High Winds, and Wind Driven RainMajor disaster
Jan 13, 1996Blizzard of 96 (Severe Snow Storm)Major disaster
Mar 10, 1994Severe Ice Storms, FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 25, 1993Severe Winter StormEmergency
Apr 7, 1977Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 15, 1976DroughtEmergency

Virginia also had 6 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1989

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 109 storm reports in Bland County since 1989, with 1 death and 0 injuries and about $1.1 million in reported damage. No tornadoes are on record here.

0tornadoes
23hail reports, largest 1.75 inches
63damaging thunderstorm winds
21floods and flash floods

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Nov 19, 2003Flash FloodCountywide$350K
Jun 9, 2011Flash FloodCeres$250K
May 16, 1996Flash FloodCountywide$150K
Jun 27, 2016Flash FloodBastian$75K
Jun 20, 1997Flash FloodPumpkin Center$50K
Jul 8, 2001Flash FloodCountywide$35K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 18, 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 1949, 0 hurricanes and 3 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Bland County, 2 of them since 1950. The strongest was Tropical Storm Hugo (1989), with top winds near 60 mph about 64 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
3tropical storms
1989most recent: Hugo

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 22, 1989HugoTropical storm, 60 mph64 mi
Aug 28, 1949UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph58 mi
Sep 30, 1959GracieTropical storm, 40 mph65 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 22, 1989HugoTropical storm, 60 mph64 mi
Sep 30, 1959GracieTropical storm, 40 mph65 mi
Aug 28, 1949UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph58 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 Bland County

Check your address flood zone ›
1.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (43 policies)
6.7%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$950,446paid on 50 flood claims since 1978
2003costliest year, with $222,778 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 Bland County

$152,100median home value (Virginia $383,700, US $332,700)
1984median year homes were built (Virginia 1984, US 1980)
44%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
25.7%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; 3,210 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
Mercer County, WVLow25
Tazewell CountyLow23
Pulaski CountyLow20
Smyth CountyLow19
Wythe CountyLow16
Giles CountyVery Low20

Common questions about Bland County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Bland County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Bland County, about $3.1 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $1.5 million.

How many federal disasters has Bland County had?

Bland County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1976, including 9 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is Bland County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 98th 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 Bland County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 91 homes in Bland 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 Bland County had?

NOAA records list 0 tornadoes in Bland County since 1950. The weather service has also logged 23 hail reports and 21 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Bland County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 3 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Bland County. The strongest was Tropical Storm Hugo (1989), with winds near 60 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.