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Buckingham County, Virginia

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

Very Low overall risk
80th of 133highest risk in Virginia
$5Mexpected losses a year
21federal declarations
1 in 1000homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Buckingham County, Virginia has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 81% of US counties. It ranks 80th of 133 counties in Virginia. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, hurricanes and drought. FEMA estimates about $4.8 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $286 per resident. Since 1969 it has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (14 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). Only 4 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 Buckingham County

$2 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.
$722,099 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 10 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.

Drought

Moderate
$717,833 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 8 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low24.8
$2M
HurricaneLow75.5
$722K
DroughtModerate82.1
$718K
Strong windLow51.3
$392K
EarthquakeLow62.9
$368K
TornadoVery Low22.6
$204K
LightningLow56.3
$200K
Heat waveVery Low28.0
$82K
HailVery Low20.7
$50K
Cold waveVery Low7.6
$33K
Ice stormVery Low23.3
$15K
Winter weatherVery Low11.5
$6K
WildfireVery Low20.7
$5K
LandslideVery Low52.6
$1K
AvalancheVery Low10.1
$6

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 very high 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 Buckingham County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Hurricane6
Severe Storm5
Snowstorm4
Flood2
Drought2
Tropical 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
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
Sep 12, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Sep 18, 2003Hurricane IsabelMajor disaster
Show all 21
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
Jul 23, 1977DroughtEmergency
Oct 15, 1976DroughtEmergency
Oct 10, 1972Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 23, 1972Tropical Storm AgnesMajor disaster
Aug 23, 1969Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1959

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 402 storm reports in Buckingham County since 1959, with 2 deaths and 5 injuries and about $2.4 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on June 16, 1966.

5tornadoes
72hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
271damaging thunderstorm winds
39floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 16, 1966F3–0 / 0
Sep 10, 1960F2–0 / 0
Aug 23, 1959F1–0 / 0
Oct 2, 1979F1–0 / 0
Sep 8, 2004F0Gold Hill0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Sep 6, 1996Flash FloodCountywide$400K
May 9, 2003Thunderstorm WindCentenary$350K
Jun 29, 2012Thunderstorm WindWingina$300K
Apr 19, 2013Thunderstorm WindDillwyn$150K
Jan 25, 2010Flash FloodToga$100K
Jun 1, 2012Thunderstorm WindDillwyn$100K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 14, 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 1878, 2 hurricanes and 13 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Buckingham County, 5 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1893, with top winds near 85 mph about 51 miles away.

2hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
13tropical storms
2003most recent: Isabel

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 13, 1893UnnamedCategory 1, 85 mph51 mi
Sep 30, 1896UnnamedCategory 1, 75 mph48 mi
Sep 19, 2003IsabelTropical storm, 70 mph52 mi
Aug 29, 1893UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph58 mi
Oct 31, 1899UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph62 mi
Aug 29, 1949UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph48 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 19, 2003IsabelTropical storm, 70 mph52 mi
Sep 6, 1996FranTropical storm, 45 mph54 mi
Sep 5, 1979DavidTropical storm, 45 mph60 mi
Aug 18, 1955DianeTropical storm, 55 mph60 mi
Sep 1, 1952AbleTropical storm, 55 mph53 mi
Aug 29, 1949UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph48 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 Buckingham County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (4 policies)
4.3%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$58,019paid on 8 flood claims since 1978
1985costliest year, with $24,836 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 Buckingham County

$173,400median home value (Virginia $383,700, US $332,700)
1990median year homes were built (Virginia 1984, US 1980)
37%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
24.4%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; 7,284 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
Albemarle CountyLow23
Fluvanna CountyVery Low21
Prince Edward CountyVery Low20
Appomattox CountyVery Low24
Nelson CountyVery Low26
Cumberland CountyVery Low21

Common questions about Buckingham County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Buckingham County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Buckingham County, about $2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Hurricane is second at $722,099.

How many federal disasters has Buckingham County had?

Buckingham County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1969, including 14 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is Buckingham County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 80th 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 Buckingham County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 1000 homes in Buckingham 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 Buckingham County had?

NOAA records list 5 tornadoes in Buckingham County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on June 16, 1966. The weather service has also logged 72 hail reports and 39 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Buckingham County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 2 hurricanes and 13 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Buckingham 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.