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Craig County, Virginia

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

Very Low overall risk
118th of 133highest risk in Virginia
$3Mexpected losses a year
24federal declarations
1 in 77homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

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

$2.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 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

Very Low
$93,245 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 3 times a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.

Cold wave

Very Low
$86,222 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 Low26.2
$2M
Strong windVery Low14.3
$93K
Cold waveVery Low12.0
$86K
LightningVery Low9.9
$27K
LandslideLow83.3
$19K
EarthquakeVery Low18.3
$19K
TornadoVery Low5.2
$17K
HurricaneVery Low34.6
$16K
Winter weatherVery Low16.7
$11K
DroughtVery Low24.5
$9K
HailVery Low4.4
$8K
Ice stormVery Low5.8
$2K
WildfireVery Low8.7
$2K
AvalancheVery Low47.8
$365
Heat waveVery Low2.0
$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

Severe Storm7
Snowstorm5
Hurricane5
Flood3
Tropical Storm2
Drought1

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
Oct 15, 2018Hurricane FlorenceMajor disaster
Sep 11, 2018Hurricane FlorenceEmergency
Nov 26, 2012Hurricane SandyMajor disaster
Oct 29, 2012Hurricane SandyEmergency
Jul 27, 2012Severe Storms and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Apr 27, 2010Severe Winter Storms and SnowstormsMajor disaster
Show all 24
Feb 16, 2010Severe Winter Storm and SnowstormMajor disaster
Jul 13, 2006Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 12, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Oct 18, 2004Severe Storms and Flooding From the Remanants of Hurricane JeanneMajor disaster
Mar 27, 2003Severe Winter Storm, Record/Near Record Snowfall, Heavy Rain,Floodind, and MudslideMajor disaster
Feb 28, 2000Severe Winter StormsMajor 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
May 19, 1992Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Nov 9, 1985Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 23, 1977DroughtEmergency
Jun 23, 1972Tropical Storm AgnesMajor disaster

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.

1tornadoes
22hail reports, largest 1.75 inches
48damaging thunderstorm winds
21floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 15, 2018EF1Marshalltown0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 29, 2012Thunderstorm WindPaint Bank$778K
Jan 19, 1996Flash FloodCountywide$150K
May 20, 2020Heavy RainPine Top$127K
Apr 15, 2018TornadoMarshalltown$124K
Jun 16, 2025Flash FloodGiven$100K
Feb 22, 2003Flash FloodPaint 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.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
7tropical storms
1996most recent: Fran

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 28, 1893UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph58 mi
Aug 29, 1949UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph49 mi
Sep 13, 1878UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph47 mi
Sep 1, 1952AbleTropical storm, 50 mph55 mi
Sep 5, 1979DavidTropical storm, 45 mph59 mi
Aug 3, 1915UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph52 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 6, 1996FranTropical storm, 45 mph65 mi
Sep 5, 1979DavidTropical storm, 45 mph59 mi
Sep 1, 1952AbleTropical storm, 50 mph55 mi
Aug 29, 1949UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph49 mi
Aug 3, 1915UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph52 mi
Aug 28, 1893UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph58 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 ›
1.3%of homes have federal flood insurance (35 policies)
16.8%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1.3 millionpaid on 94 flood claims since 1978
2004costliest year, with $831,169 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 Craig County

$189,000median home value (Virginia $383,700, US $332,700)
1981median year homes were built (Virginia 1984, US 1980)
49%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
13.1%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; 2,398 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
Montgomery CountyLow22
Roanoke CountyLow21
Botetourt CountyVery Low22
Giles CountyVery Low20
Alleghany CountyVery Low18
Monroe County, WVVery Low17

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.