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Charlotte County, Virginia

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

Very Low overall risk
86th of 133highest risk in Virginia
$4Mexpected losses a year
20federal declarations
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Charlotte County, Virginia has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 83% of US counties. It ranks 86th of 133 counties in Virginia. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, drought and hurricanes. FEMA estimates about $4.1 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $352 per resident. Since 1972 it has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (13 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). Only 1 home here carries federal flood insurance.

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

Top risks in Charlotte County

$1.5 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.
$1.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 9 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
$528,404 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low19.8
$1M
DroughtHigh93.2
$1M
HurricaneLow74.1
$528K
Cold waveVery Low22.6
$165K
EarthquakeVery Low45.7
$134K
Strong windLow22.1
$124K
TornadoVery Low17.8
$122K
LightningLow29.8
$66K
Heat waveVery Low24.5
$57K
HailVery Low22.1
$49K
Winter weatherLow28.6
$17K
Ice stormVery Low24.0
$14K
WildfireVery Low11.3
$2K
LandslideVery Low31.7
$217

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 relatively low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Hurricane6
Severe Storm5
Snowstorm3
Drought2
Flood1
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
Sep 12, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Show all 20
Sep 18, 2003Hurricane IsabelMajor 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
Jul 23, 1977DroughtEmergency
Oct 15, 1976DroughtEmergency
Jun 23, 1972Tropical Storm AgnesMajor 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 364 storm reports in Charlotte County since 1959, with 2 deaths and 1 injury and about $6.7 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on October 14, 1986.

6tornadoes
52hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
257damaging thunderstorm winds
35floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Oct 14, 1986F3–0 / 0
May 8, 1984F2–0 / 0
Oct 13, 1983F2–0 / 0
May 27, 2022EF1Reese Shop0 / 0
Nov 23, 1992F1–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 8, 1984Tornado–$3M
Sep 6, 1996Flash FloodCountywide$2M
Oct 11, 2018Flash FloodKeysville$1M
Oct 13, 1983Tornado–$250K
Oct 14, 1986Tornado–$250K
Dec 7, 2011Thunderstorm WindRough Creek$200K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 27, 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, 3 hurricanes and 18 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Charlotte County, 6 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1893, with top winds near 85 mph about 55 miles away.

3hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
18tropical storms
2021most recent: Elsa

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 13, 1893UnnamedCategory 1, 85 mph55 mi
Sep 30, 1896UnnamedCategory 1, 80 mph52 mi
Sep 18, 2003IsabelCategory 1, 75 mph57 mi
Aug 28, 1893UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph54 mi
Oct 31, 1899UnnamedTropical storm, 65 mph59 mi
Aug 17, 1955DianeTropical storm, 60 mph51 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Jul 8, 2021ElsaTropical storm, 50 mph65 mi
Sep 18, 2003IsabelCategory 1, 75 mph57 mi
Sep 6, 1996FranTropical storm, 55 mph57 mi
Sep 5, 1979DavidTropical storm, 45 mph63 mi
Aug 17, 1955DianeTropical storm, 60 mph51 mi
Sep 1, 1952AbleTropical storm, 50 mph59 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 Charlotte County

Check your address flood zone ›
0%of homes have federal flood insurance (1 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1,709paid on 2 flood claims since 1978
1979costliest year, with $1,709 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 Charlotte County

$144,100median 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
24%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; 5,973 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
Halifax CountyLow22
Mecklenburg CountyLow18
Prince Edward CountyVery Low20
Appomattox CountyVery Low24
Lunenburg CountyVery Low21

Common questions about Charlotte County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Charlotte County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Charlotte County, about $1.5 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Drought is second at $1.3 million.

How many federal disasters has Charlotte County had?

Charlotte County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1972, including 13 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is Charlotte County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 86th 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 Charlotte County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.

How many tornadoes has Charlotte County had?

NOAA records list 6 tornadoes in Charlotte County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on October 14, 1986. The weather service has also logged 52 hail reports and 35 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Charlotte County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 3 hurricanes and 18 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Charlotte 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.