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Cumberland County, Virginia

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

Very Low overall risk
78th of 133highest risk in Virginia
$5Mexpected losses a year
21federal declarations
1 in 500homes with flood insurance
Photo: Aleatoric Consonance, CC BY 2.0

Cumberland County, Virginia has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 80% of US counties. It ranks 78th of 133 counties in Virginia. The costliest hazards here are drought, inland flooding and hurricanes. FEMA estimates about $5.1 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $531 per resident. Since 1969 it has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (14 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). Only 8 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $302,000 on 11 claims here.

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

Top risks in Cumberland County

$2.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 9 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
$1.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 3 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.
$555,244 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
DroughtHigh96.5
$2M
Inland floodingVery Low16.5
$1M
HurricaneLow72.9
$555K
EarthquakeLow60.5
$331K
TornadoVery Low17.6
$136K
Strong windLow17.8
$110K
Heat waveVery Low22.3
$53K
LightningVery Low20.5
$50K
HailVery Low13.7
$32K
Ice stormLow29.3
$22K
Cold waveVery Low5.9
$20K
Winter weatherVery Low14.4
$8K
WildfireVery Low8.1
$2K
LandslideVery Low28.1
$186

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 very low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Hurricane7
Severe Storm5
Snowstorm3
Flood2
Drought2
Severe Ice Storm1

Most recent

Jan 23, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
Apr 4, 2025Severe Winter Storms and FloodingMajor 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
Sep 18, 2003Hurricane IsabelMajor disaster
Show all 21
May 5, 2002Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor 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
Mar 10, 1994Severe Ice Storms, FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 25, 1993Severe Winter StormEmergency
Jul 23, 1977DroughtEmergency
Oct 15, 1976DroughtEmergency
Oct 10, 1972Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 23, 1972Tropical Storm AgnesMajor disaster
Aug 23, 1969Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1977

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 160 storm reports in Cumberland County since 1977 and about $911,000 in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF1 tornado on April 27, 2011 near Kimberley Hills.

2tornadoes
25hail reports, largest 2 inches
103damaging thunderstorm winds
9floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 27, 2011EF1Kimberley Hills0 / 0
Jul 12, 1977n/a–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Aug 20, 1993Thunderstorm Wind–$500K
Apr 26, 2022Thunderstorm WindCartersville$150K
Apr 27, 2011TornadoKimberley Hills$40K
Jul 12, 1977Tornado–$25K
Jul 5, 2026Thunderstorm WindCumberland$14K
May 9, 2003Thunderstorm WindCumberland$10K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 5, 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, 5 hurricanes and 13 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Cumberland County, 5 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1878, with top winds near 100 mph about 64 miles away.

5hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
13tropical storms
2003most recent: Isabel

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 23, 1878UnnamedCategory 2, 100 mph64 mi
Oct 13, 1893UnnamedCategory 1, 85 mph47 mi
Sep 30, 1896UnnamedCategory 1, 75 mph55 mi
Sep 18, 2003IsabelCategory 1, 75 mph64 mi
Sep 17, 1876UnnamedCategory 1, 75 mph60 mi
Aug 29, 1893UnnamedTropical storm, 65 mph50 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 18, 2003IsabelCategory 1, 75 mph64 mi
Sep 6, 1996FranTropical storm, 45 mph61 mi
Sep 6, 1979DavidTropical storm, 45 mph64 mi
Aug 18, 1955DianeTropical storm, 55 mph61 mi
Sep 1, 1952AbleTropical storm, 55 mph56 mi
Aug 29, 1949UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph63 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 Cumberland County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (8 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$301,715paid on 11 flood claims since 1978
2020costliest year, with $171,900 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 Cumberland County

$239,300median home value (Virginia $383,700, US $332,700)
1986median year homes were built (Virginia 1984, US 1980)
39%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
24.8%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; 4,736 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
Powhatan CountyVery Low22
Fluvanna CountyVery Low21
Goochland CountyVery Low19
Prince Edward CountyVery Low20
Buckingham CountyVery Low21
Amelia CountyVery Low20

Common questions about Cumberland County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Cumberland County?

Drought has the highest expected yearly losses in Cumberland County, about $2.4 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $1.4 million.

How many federal disasters has Cumberland County had?

Cumberland County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1969, including 14 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is Cumberland County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 78th 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 Cumberland County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 500 homes in Cumberland 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 Cumberland County had?

NOAA records list 2 tornadoes in Cumberland County since 1950. The strongest was an EF1 tornado on April 27, 2011 near Kimberley Hills. The weather service has also logged 25 hail reports and 9 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Cumberland County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 5 hurricanes and 13 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Cumberland County. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1878, with winds near 100 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.