Craig County, Virginia
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Craig County, Virginia has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 94% of US counties. It ranks 118th of 133 counties in Virginia. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, strong wind and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $2.8 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $567 per resident. Since 1972 it has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (17 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). Only 35 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.3 million on 94 claims here, including $831,000 for floods in 2004.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Craig 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.
- Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
- Have trees near the house checked.
- Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
- Know how to shut off the main water valve.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 26.2 | $2M | ||
| Strong wind | 14.3 | $93K | ||
| Cold wave | 12.0 | $86K | ||
| Lightning | 9.9 | $27K | ||
| Landslide | 83.3 | $19K | ||
| Earthquake | 18.3 | $19K | ||
| Tornado | 5.2 | $17K | ||
| Hurricane | 34.6 | $16K | ||
| Winter weather | 16.7 | $11K | ||
| Drought | 24.5 | $9K | ||
| Hail | 4.4 | $8K | ||
| Ice storm | 5.8 | $2K | ||
| Wildfire | 8.7 | $2K | ||
| Avalanche | 47.8 | $365 | ||
| Heat wave | 2.0 | $0 |
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 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 Craig County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 24
Virginia also had 6 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1988
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 97 storm reports in Craig County since 1988 and about $1.6 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF1 tornado on April 15, 2018 near Marshalltown.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 15, 2018 | EF1 | Marshalltown | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 29, 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | Paint Bank | $778K |
| Jan 19, 1996 | Flash Flood | Countywide | $150K |
| May 20, 2020 | Heavy Rain | Pine Top | $127K |
| Apr 15, 2018 | Tornado | Marshalltown | $124K |
| Jun 16, 2025 | Flash Flood | Given | $100K |
| Feb 22, 2003 | Flash Flood | Paint Bank | $50K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 16, 2025. 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 7 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Craig County, 3 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1893, with top winds near 70 mph about 58 miles away.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 28, 1893 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 70 mph | 58 mi |
| Aug 29, 1949 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 49 mi |
| Sep 13, 1878 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 47 mi |
| Sep 1, 1952 | Able | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 55 mi |
| Sep 5, 1979 | David | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 59 mi |
| Aug 3, 1915 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 52 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 6, 1996 | Fran | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 65 mi |
| Sep 5, 1979 | David | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 59 mi |
| Sep 1, 1952 | Able | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 55 mi |
| Aug 29, 1949 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 49 mi |
| Aug 3, 1915 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 52 mi |
| Aug 28, 1893 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 70 mph | 58 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 Craig 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 Craig 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; 2,398 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Montgomery County | 22 | |
| Roanoke County | 21 | |
| Botetourt County | 22 | |
| Giles County | 20 | |
| Alleghany County | 18 | |
| Monroe County, WV | 17 |
Common questions about Craig County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Craig County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Craig County, about $2.5 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Strong wind is second at $93,245.
How many federal disasters has Craig County had?
Craig County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1972, including 17 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.
Is Craig County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 118th 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 Craig County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 77 homes in Craig 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 Craig County had?
NOAA records list 1 tornadoes in Craig County since 1950. The strongest was an EF1 tornado on April 15, 2018 near Marshalltown. The weather service has also logged 22 hail reports and 21 floods here.
How many hurricanes have hit Craig County?
NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 7 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Craig 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.