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Carroll County, Virginia

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

Relatively Low overall risk
45th of 133highest risk in Virginia
$10Mexpected losses a year
15federal declarations
1 in 500homes with flood insurance
Photo: Bold Frontiers, CC BY 2.0

Carroll County, Virginia has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 55% of US counties. It ranks 45th of 133 counties in Virginia. The costliest hazards here are cold waves, inland flooding and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $9.9 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $340 per resident. Since 1977 it has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (9 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). Only 28 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $239,000 on 22 claims here.

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

Top risks in Carroll County

$4.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 4 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
$3.7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times 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.
$364,643 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 10 years.
  • Pick a shelter spot: a basement, or an inside room on the lowest floor with no windows.
  • Turn on emergency alerts on your phone and keep a weather radio.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Cold waveHigh89.3
$5M
Inland floodingLow42.7
$4M
TornadoLow30.4
$365K
Strong windLow34.3
$237K
DroughtLow62.8
$232K
EarthquakeVery Low47.5
$169K
HurricaneLow61.3
$163K
LightningLow49.2
$157K
HailLow37.4
$113K
Ice stormLow56.7
$79K
LandslideModerate92.8
$57K
WildfireVery Low55.9
$46K
Winter weatherLow43.8
$36K
AvalancheVery Low56.6
$762

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 Carroll County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood3
Snowstorm3
Severe Storm3
Hurricane3
Tropical Storm2
Winter Storm1

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
Feb 28, 2000Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Jan 13, 1996Blizzard of 96 (Severe Snow Storm)Major disaster
Show all 15
Mar 10, 1994Severe Ice Storms, FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 25, 1993Severe Winter StormEmergency
May 19, 1992Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Nov 12, 1977Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 7, 1977Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1960

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 369 storm reports in Carroll County since 1960, with 0 deaths and 9 injuries and about $6.2 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF2 tornado on March 23, 2022 near Gladesboro.

6tornadoes
125hail reports, largest 2.5 inches
147damaging thunderstorm winds
75floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Mar 23, 2022EF2Gladesboro0 / 0
Aug 21, 1977F2–0 / 0
Jul 4, 1979F1–0 / 0
Aug 1, 1965F1–5 / 0
Sep 5, 2011EF0Cana2 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jan 30, 2013FloodByllesby$2M
Mar 27, 2021HailHillsville$1M
Jan 8, 1998Flash FloodCountywide$500K
Mar 23, 2022TornadoGladesboro$400K
Sep 5, 2011TornadoCana$300K
Jul 4, 1979Tornado–$250K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 12, 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, 0 hurricanes and 8 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Carroll County, 4 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1893, with top winds near 70 mph about 58 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
8tropical storms
1989most recent: Hugo

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 28, 1893UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph58 mi
Sep 22, 1989HugoTropical storm, 60 mph61 mi
Aug 28, 1949UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph43 mi
Sep 12, 1878UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph54 mi
Sep 5, 1979DavidTropical storm, 45 mph60 mi
Sep 1, 1952AbleTropical storm, 45 mph58 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 22, 1989HugoTropical storm, 60 mph61 mi
Sep 5, 1979DavidTropical storm, 45 mph60 mi
Sep 30, 1959GracieTropical storm, 40 mph58 mi
Sep 1, 1952AbleTropical storm, 45 mph58 mi
Aug 28, 1949UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph43 mi
Aug 3, 1915UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph54 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 Carroll County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (28 policies)
10.3%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$239,485paid on 22 flood claims since 1978
2024costliest year, with $73,731 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 Carroll County

$156,500median home value (Virginia $383,700, US $332,700)
1981median year homes were built (Virginia 1984, US 1980)
48%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
20.5%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; 16,696 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
Surry County, NCLow18
Pulaski CountyLow20
Wythe CountyLow16
Patrick CountyVery Low17
Floyd CountyVery Low20
Grayson CountyVery Low19
Galax CityVery Low14

Common questions about Carroll County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Carroll County?

Cold wave has the highest expected yearly losses in Carroll County, about $4.6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $3.7 million.

How many federal disasters has Carroll County had?

Carroll County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1977, including 9 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is Carroll County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 45th 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 Carroll County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 500 homes in Carroll 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 Carroll County had?

NOAA records list 6 tornadoes in Carroll County since 1950. The strongest was an EF2 tornado on March 23, 2022 near Gladesboro. The weather service has also logged 125 hail reports and 75 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Carroll County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 8 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Carroll County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1893, with winds near 70 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.