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Danville City, Virginia

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

Relatively Low overall risk
16th of 133highest risk in Virginia
$18Mexpected losses a year
16federal declarations
1 in 500homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Danville City, Virginia has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 68% of US counties. It ranks 16th of 133 counties in Virginia. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and hurricanes. FEMA estimates about $18 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $433 per resident. Since 1972 it has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (10 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). Only 39 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $5.0 million on 164 claims here, including $3.4 million for floods in 2018.

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

Top risks in Danville City

$14.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times a year.
  • 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.
$1.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 80 years.
  • Pick a shelter spot: a basement, or an inside room on the lowest floor with no windows.
  • Turn on emergency alerts on your phone and keep a weather radio.
$853,348 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
Inland floodingModerate81.5
$14M
TornadoLow61.5
$1M
HurricaneLow76.6
$853K
EarthquakeLow64.2
$399K
Cold waveLow31.0
$302K
Strong windLow42.4
$301K
Heat waveLow50.9
$265K
HailLow52.9
$201K
LightningLow49.5
$156K
Ice stormModerate65.7
$120K
Winter weatherModerate65.9
$76K
WildfireVery Low13.8
$3K
LandslideVery Low34.7
$306

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 moderate in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Hurricane7
Severe Storm3
Snowstorm2
Tropical Storm2
Flood1
Winter Storm1

Most recent

Jan 23, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
Oct 1, 2024Tropical Storm HeleneMajor disaster
Sep 29, 2024Post-Tropical Cyclone HeleneEmergency
Dec 18, 2018Tropical Storm MichaelMajor disaster
Oct 15, 2018Hurricane FlorenceMajor 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 16
Mar 27, 2003Severe Winter Storm, Record/Near Record Snowfall, Heavy Rain,Floodind, and MudslideMajor 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 25, 1993Severe Winter StormEmergency
Jun 23, 1972Tropical Storm AgnesMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1976

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 159 storm reports in Danville City since 1976, with 2 deaths and 2 injuries and about $15.2 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF1 tornado on April 15, 2018 near Danville.

3tornadoes
20hail reports, largest 1.75 inches
88damaging thunderstorm winds
37floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 15, 2018EF1Danville0 / 0
Aug 12, 2004F1Danville1 / 0
Oct 9, 1976n/a–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Oct 11, 2018Flash FloodDanville$8M
Sep 22, 2018Flash FloodDanville$3M
Apr 15, 2018TornadoDanville$3M
Aug 12, 2004TornadoDanville$775K
Jun 14, 2000Thunderstorm WindDanville$50K
Jun 21, 2011Thunderstorm WindDanville$50K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 9, 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 1859, 2 hurricanes and 16 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Danville City, 5 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1893, with top winds near 85 mph about 59 miles away.

2hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
16tropical storms
2018most recent: Michael

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 13, 1893UnnamedCategory 1, 85 mph59 mi
Sep 29, 1896UnnamedCategory 1, 80 mph62 mi
Aug 28, 1893UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph49 mi
Sep 6, 1996FranTropical storm, 60 mph54 mi
Aug 17, 1955DianeTropical storm, 60 mph59 mi
Sep 12, 1878UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph42 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 11, 2018MichaelTropical storm, 55 mph48 mi
Sep 6, 1996FranTropical storm, 60 mph54 mi
Sep 5, 1979DavidTropical storm, 45 mph60 mi
Aug 17, 1955DianeTropical storm, 60 mph59 mi
Sep 1, 1952AbleTropical storm, 50 mph54 mi
Aug 29, 1949UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph46 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 Danville City

Check your address flood zone ›
0.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (39 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$5 millionpaid on 164 flood claims since 1978
2018costliest year, with $3.4 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 Danville City

$119,100median home value (Virginia $383,700, US $332,700)
1961median year homes were built (Virginia 1984, US 1980)
81%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
3.2%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; 22,376 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
Pittsylvania CountyLow25
Caswell County, NCVery Low23

Cities in Danville City

Common questions about Danville City

What is the biggest natural hazard in Danville City?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Danville City, about $14.5 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $1.3 million.

How many federal disasters has Danville City had?

Danville City has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1972, including 10 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is Danville City a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 16th 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 Danville City?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 500 homes in Danville 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 Danville City had?

NOAA records list 3 tornadoes in Danville City since 1950. The strongest was an EF1 tornado on April 15, 2018 near Danville. The weather service has also logged 20 hail reports and 37 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Danville City?

NOAA's hurricane records show 2 hurricanes and 16 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Danville City. 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 city, not a single property, and are not insurance or safety advice. Report a problem.