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Falls Church City, Virginia

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

Very Low overall risk
132nd of 133highest risk in Virginia
$3Mexpected losses a year
14federal declarations
1 in 20homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

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

$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.
$493,189 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 41 times a year.
  • Go indoors when you hear thunder.
  • Use surge protectors for electronics.
$279,659 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 8 times a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low5.4
$1M
LightningLow53.4
$493K
Strong windLow17.3
$280K
Heat waveVery Low31.4
$273K
HurricaneVery Low53.7
$201K
TornadoVery Low13.0
$201K
EarthquakeVery Low30.1
$142K
HailVery Low8.4
$45K
Winter weatherVery Low15.6
$24K
Cold waveVery Low4.5
$18K
Ice stormVery Low10.8
$10K
WildfireVery Low0.1
$100
LandslideVery Low0.3
$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

Snowstorm5
Hurricane5
Severe Storm2
Flood1
Winter Storm1

Most recent

Jan 23, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
Sep 11, 2018Hurricane FlorenceEmergency
Mar 7, 2016Severe Winter Storm and SnowstormMajor disaster
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
Feb 16, 2010Severe Winter Storm and SnowstormMajor disaster
Sep 12, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Sep 18, 2003Hurricane IsabelMajor disaster
Show all 14
Mar 27, 2003Severe Winter Storm, Record/Near Record Snowfall, Heavy Rain,Floodind, and MudslideMajor 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 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.

1tornadoes
8hail reports, largest 1.5 inches
26damaging thunderstorm winds
6floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Oct 13, 1983F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Oct 13, 1983Tornado–$3M
Aug 7, 2000Thunderstorm WindFalls Church$300K
Jul 2, 2006Thunderstorm WindFalls Church$45K
Jul 29, 2023Thunderstorm WindFalls Church$25K
Jul 4, 2006Thunderstorm WindFalls Church$15K
Jul 1, 2021Thunderstorm WindFalls 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.

2hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
13tropical storms
2020most recent: Isaias

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 23, 1878UnnamedCategory 1, 95 mph30 mi
Oct 13, 1893UnnamedCategory 1, 75 mph51 mi
Aug 23, 1933UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph59 mi
Sep 17, 1876UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph48 mi
Aug 4, 2020IsaiasTropical storm, 70 mph57 mi
Aug 13, 1955ConnieTropical storm, 65 mph54 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 4, 2020IsaiasTropical storm, 70 mph57 mi
Jun 3, 1963UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph61 mi
Aug 18, 1955DianeTropical storm, 45 mph59 mi
Aug 13, 1955ConnieTropical storm, 65 mph54 mi
Sep 1, 1952AbleTropical storm, 60 mph43 mi
Aug 29, 1949UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph59 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 ›
4.9%of homes have federal flood insurance (156 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$471,724paid on 74 flood claims since 1978
2019costliest year, with $210,293 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 Falls Church City

$1.1 millionmedian home value (Virginia $383,700, US $332,700)
1971median year homes were built (Virginia 1984, US 1980)
61%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
0.1%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; 6,585 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
Fairfax CountyHigh17
Arlington CountyLow18

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.