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Covington City, Virginia

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

Very Low overall risk
105th of 133highest risk in Virginia
$5Mexpected losses a year
13federal declarations
1 in 50homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Covington City, Virginia has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 90% of US counties. It ranks 105th of 133 counties in Virginia. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, strong wind and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $4.7 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $816 per resident. Since 1972 it has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (7 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). About 1 in 50 homes here carry federal flood insurance (57 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.9 million on 206 claims here, including $1.0 million for floods in 2016.

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

Top risks in Covington City

$2.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 4 years.
  • 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.

Strong wind

Moderate
$1.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 3 times a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.
$348,131 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low23.6
$3M
Strong windModerate79.0
$1M
Cold waveLow26.1
$348K
LightningLow37.6
$147K
EarthquakeVery Low26.9
$55K
HurricaneVery Low43.9
$42K
TornadoVery Low5.4
$23K
HailVery Low7.9
$23K
Winter weatherVery Low16.9
$14K
Ice stormVery Low7.4
$4K
Heat waveVery Low3.0
$1K
LandslideVery Low18.5
$98
WildfireVery Low0.2
$69

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 high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

Federal declarations for natural events that included Covington City. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood3
Snowstorm3
Hurricane3
Tropical Storm2
Severe Storm1
Winter Storm1

Most recent

Jan 23, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
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
Feb 16, 2010Severe Winter Storm and SnowstormMajor disaster
Sep 12, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jan 27, 1996Flooding, High Winds, and Wind Driven RainMajor disaster
Jan 13, 1996Blizzard of 96 (Severe Snow Storm)Major disaster
Show all 13
Mar 25, 1993Severe Winter StormEmergency
Nov 9, 1985Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 23, 1972Tropical Storm AgnesMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1983

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 25 storm reports in Covington City since 1983 and about $3.6 million in reported damage. No tornadoes are on record here.

0tornadoes
3hail reports, largest 1 inches
14damaging thunderstorm winds
5floods and flash floods

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 23, 2016Flash FloodCovington$3M
Jun 29, 2012Thunderstorm WindCovington$500K
Jun 16, 2022LightningCovington$25K
Apr 24, 2013Thunderstorm WindCovington$20K
Jun 1, 1997Flash FloodCovington$3K
Jul 13, 2023Thunderstorm WindCovington$3K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 13, 2023. 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 Covington City, 4 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1893, with top winds near 70 mph about 60 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
8tropical storms
1996most recent: Fran

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 29, 1893UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph60 mi
Aug 29, 1949UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph46 mi
Sep 13, 1878UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph61 mi
Aug 18, 1955DianeTropical storm, 50 mph65 mi
Sep 1, 1952AbleTropical storm, 50 mph64 mi
Sep 5, 1979DavidTropical storm, 45 mph62 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 6, 1996FranTropical storm, 45 mph65 mi
Sep 5, 1979DavidTropical storm, 45 mph62 mi
Aug 18, 1955DianeTropical storm, 50 mph65 mi
Sep 1, 1952AbleTropical storm, 50 mph64 mi
Aug 29, 1949UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph46 mi
Aug 3, 1915UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph60 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 Covington City

Check your address flood zone ›
2%of homes have federal flood insurance (57 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1.9 millionpaid on 206 flood claims since 1978
2016costliest year, with $1 million 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 Covington City

$83,500median home value (Virginia $383,700, US $332,700)
1951median year homes were built (Virginia 1984, US 1980)
85%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
5.6%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; 3,035 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
Alleghany CountyVery Low18

Common questions about Covington City

What is the biggest natural hazard in Covington City?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Covington City, about $2.8 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Strong wind is second at $1.3 million.

How many federal disasters has Covington City had?

Covington City has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1972, including 7 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is Covington City a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 105th 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 Covington City?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 50 homes in Covington City 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 Covington City had?

NOAA records list 0 tornadoes in Covington City since 1950. The weather service has also logged 3 hail reports and 5 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Covington City?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 8 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Covington City. 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 city, not a single property, and are not insurance or safety advice. Report a problem.