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Dinwiddie County, Virginia

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

Very Low overall risk
79th of 133highest risk in Virginia
$7Mexpected losses a year
20federal declarations
1 in 500homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Dinwiddie County, Virginia has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 81% of US counties. It ranks 79th of 133 counties in Virginia. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, drought and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $7.2 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $259 per resident. Since 1972 it has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (13 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). Only 25 homes here carry federal flood insurance.

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

Top risks in Dinwiddie County

$2.7 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.
$2.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 6 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
$455,578 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 4 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low22.1
$3M
DroughtHigh94.0
$2M
TornadoLow28.1
$456K
HurricaneLow66.5
$432K
EarthquakeVery Low55.4
$372K
Cold waveVery Low22.3
$268K
Heat waveLow42.3
$261K
Strong windLow21.5
$200K
LightningLow24.8
$89K
Winter weatherLow42.8
$51K
HailVery Low14.6
$50K
Ice stormLow34.8
$42K
WildfireVery Low21.9
$9K
LandslideVery Low11.3
$35

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 low 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 Dinwiddie County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Hurricane8
Severe Storm4
Snowstorm3
Drought2
Flood1
Severe Ice Storm1

Most recent

Jan 23, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
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 3, 2011Hurricane IreneMajor disaster
Sep 22, 2006Tropical Depression Ernesto, Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 12, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Sep 3, 2004Severe Storms, Flooding and Tornadoes Associated W Td GastonMajor disaster
Show all 20
Sep 18, 2003Hurricane IsabelMajor disaster
Feb 28, 2000Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Sep 18, 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster DeclarationsMajor 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

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

Storm history since 1956

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 248 storm reports in Dinwiddie County since 1956, with 5 deaths and 270 injuries and about $56.5 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on August 6, 1993 near Petersburg.

12tornadoes
21hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
151damaging thunderstorm winds
32floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Aug 6, 1993F4Petersburg246 / 4
May 22, 1983F3–0 / 0
Apr 16, 2011EF1Dewitt5 / 0
May 5, 2017EF1Mc Kenney0 / 0
Mar 3, 1999F1Jack17 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Aug 6, 1993TornadoPetersburg$50M
Aug 30, 2004Flash FloodCountywide$2M
Apr 16, 2011TornadoDewitt$2M
Sep 16, 1999Flash FloodCountywide$1M
May 5, 2017TornadoMc Kenney$480K
May 22, 1983Tornado–$250K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 22, 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 22 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Dinwiddie County, 11 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1878, with top winds near 100 mph about 37 miles away.

5hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
22tropical storms
2023most recent: Ophelia

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 23, 1878UnnamedCategory 2, 100 mph37 mi
Oct 13, 1893UnnamedCategory 1, 85 mph42 mi
Sep 18, 2003IsabelCategory 1, 80 mph45 mi
Sep 17, 1876UnnamedCategory 1, 80 mph52 mi
Aug 23, 1933UnnamedCategory 1, 75 mph60 mi
Jul 13, 1996BerthaTropical storm, 70 mph54 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 23, 2023OpheliaTropical storm, 45 mph54 mi
Jul 9, 2021ElsaTropical storm, 55 mph51 mi
Aug 4, 2020IsaiasTropical storm, 70 mph51 mi
Sep 6, 2008HannaTropical storm, 50 mph47 mi
Aug 30, 2004GastonTropical storm, 40 mph58 mi
Sep 18, 2003IsabelCategory 1, 80 mph45 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 Dinwiddie County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (25 policies)
15.4%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$85,451paid on 8 flood claims since 1978
1993costliest year, with $39,196 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 Dinwiddie County

$257,800median home value (Virginia $383,700, US $332,700)
1987median year homes were built (Virginia 1984, US 1980)
40%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
11.4%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; 11,982 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
Chesterfield CountyModerate23
Prince George CountyVery Low17
Petersburg CityVery Low15
Brunswick CountyVery Low17
Nottoway CountyVery Low20
Amelia CountyVery Low20
Greensville CountyVery Low15
Sussex CountyVery Low16

Common questions about Dinwiddie County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Dinwiddie County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Dinwiddie County, about $2.7 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Drought is second at $2.3 million.

How many federal disasters has Dinwiddie County had?

Dinwiddie County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1972, including 13 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is Dinwiddie County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 79th 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 Dinwiddie County?

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

NOAA records list 12 tornadoes in Dinwiddie County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on August 6, 1993 near Petersburg. The weather service has also logged 21 hail reports and 32 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Dinwiddie County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 5 hurricanes and 22 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Dinwiddie 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.