Falls Church City, Virginia
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Falls Church City, Virginia has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 98% of US counties. It ranks 132nd of 133 counties in Virginia. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, lightning and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $3.1 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $214 per resident. Since 1972 it has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (9 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). About 1 in 20 homes here carry federal flood insurance (156 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $472,000 on 74 claims here.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Falls Church City
- 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.
- Go indoors when you hear thunder.
- Use surge protectors for electronics.
- Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
- Have trees near the house checked.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 5.4 | $1M | ||
| Lightning | 53.4 | $493K | ||
| Strong wind | 17.3 | $280K | ||
| Heat wave | 31.4 | $273K | ||
| Hurricane | 53.7 | $201K | ||
| Tornado | 13.0 | $201K | ||
| Earthquake | 30.1 | $142K | ||
| Hail | 8.4 | $45K | ||
| Winter weather | 15.6 | $24K | ||
| Cold wave | 4.5 | $18K | ||
| Ice storm | 10.8 | $10K | ||
| Wildfire | 0.1 | $100 | ||
| Landslide | 0.3 | $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 very low and community resilience is very high in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Falls Church City. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 14
Virginia also had 6 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1983
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 53 storm reports in Falls Church City since 1983, with 1 death and 0 injuries and about $2.9 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on October 13, 1983.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 13, 1983 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 13, 1983 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Aug 7, 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | Falls Church | $300K |
| Jul 2, 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | Falls Church | $45K |
| Jul 29, 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | Falls Church | $25K |
| Jul 4, 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | Falls Church | $15K |
| Jul 1, 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | Falls Church | $15K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Apr 15, 2024. 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 1876, 2 hurricanes and 13 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Falls Church City, 5 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1878, with top winds near 95 mph about 30 miles away.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 23, 1878 | Unnamed | Category 1, 95 mph | 30 mi |
| Oct 13, 1893 | Unnamed | Category 1, 75 mph | 51 mi |
| Aug 23, 1933 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 70 mph | 59 mi |
| Sep 17, 1876 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 70 mph | 48 mi |
| Aug 4, 2020 | Isaias | Tropical storm, 70 mph | 57 mi |
| Aug 13, 1955 | Connie | Tropical storm, 65 mph | 54 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 4, 2020 | Isaias | Tropical storm, 70 mph | 57 mi |
| Jun 3, 1963 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 61 mi |
| Aug 18, 1955 | Diane | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 59 mi |
| Aug 13, 1955 | Connie | Tropical storm, 65 mph | 54 mi |
| Sep 1, 1952 | Able | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 43 mi |
| Aug 29, 1949 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 59 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 Falls Church City
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 Falls Church City
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; 6,585 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Fairfax County | 17 | |
| Arlington County | 18 |
Common questions about Falls Church City
What is the biggest natural hazard in Falls Church City?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Falls Church City, about $1.4 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Lightning is second at $493,189.
How many federal disasters has Falls Church City had?
Falls Church City has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1972, including 9 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.
Is Falls Church City a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 132nd 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 Falls Church City?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 20 homes in Falls Church 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 Falls Church City had?
NOAA records list 1 tornadoes in Falls Church City since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on October 13, 1983. The weather service has also logged 8 hail reports and 6 floods here.
How many hurricanes have hit Falls Church City?
NOAA's hurricane records show 2 hurricanes and 13 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Falls Church City. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1878, with winds near 95 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.