Charlotte County, Virginia
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
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
- 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.
- Check local water restrictions.
- Choose drought-tolerant plants.
- 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.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 19.8 | $1M | ||
| Drought | 93.2 | $1M | ||
| Hurricane | 74.1 | $528K | ||
| Cold wave | 22.6 | $165K | ||
| Earthquake | 45.7 | $134K | ||
| Strong wind | 22.1 | $124K | ||
| Tornado | 17.8 | $122K | ||
| Lightning | 29.8 | $66K | ||
| Heat wave | 24.5 | $57K | ||
| Hail | 22.1 | $49K | ||
| Winter weather | 28.6 | $17K | ||
| Ice storm | 24.0 | $14K | ||
| Wildfire | 11.3 | $2K | ||
| Landslide | 31.7 | $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
Most recent
Show all 20
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.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 14, 1986 | F3 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 8, 1984 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Oct 13, 1983 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 27, 2022 | EF1 | Reese Shop | 0 / 0 |
| Nov 23, 1992 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 8, 1984 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Sep 6, 1996 | Flash Flood | Countywide | $2M |
| Oct 11, 2018 | Flash Flood | Keysville | $1M |
| Oct 13, 1983 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Oct 14, 1986 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Dec 7, 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Rough 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.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 13, 1893 | Unnamed | Category 1, 85 mph | 55 mi |
| Sep 30, 1896 | Unnamed | Category 1, 80 mph | 52 mi |
| Sep 18, 2003 | Isabel | Category 1, 75 mph | 57 mi |
| Aug 28, 1893 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 70 mph | 54 mi |
| Oct 31, 1899 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 65 mph | 59 mi |
| Aug 17, 1955 | Diane | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 51 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 8, 2021 | Elsa | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 65 mi |
| Sep 18, 2003 | Isabel | Category 1, 75 mph | 57 mi |
| Sep 6, 1996 | Fran | Tropical storm, 55 mph | 57 mi |
| Sep 5, 1979 | David | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 63 mi |
| Aug 17, 1955 | Diane | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 51 mi |
| Sep 1, 1952 | Able | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 59 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 ›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
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 counties | Overall risk | Top hazard |
|---|---|---|
| Fairfax County | Inland flooding | |
| Prince William County | Inland flooding | |
| Virginia Beach City | Hurricane | |
| Loudoun County | Inland flooding | |
| Chesterfield County | Inland flooding | |
| Henrico County | Inland flooding | |
| Chesapeake City | Inland flooding | |
| Arlington County | Inland flooding |
Neighboring counties
| County | Overall risk | Declarations |
|---|---|---|
| Campbell County | 22 | |
| Halifax County | 22 | |
| Mecklenburg County | 18 | |
| Prince Edward County | 20 | |
| Appomattox County | 24 | |
| Lunenburg County | 21 |
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.