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Fauquier County, Virginia

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

Relatively Low overall risk
39th of 133highest risk in Virginia
$22Mexpected losses a year
19federal declarations
1 in 250homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Fauquier County, Virginia has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 52% of US counties. It ranks 39th of 133 counties in Virginia. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, strong wind and hurricanes. FEMA estimates about $22 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $305 per resident. Since 1972 it has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (13 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (138 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $175,000 on 33 claims here.

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

Top risks in Fauquier County

$16.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 3 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.

Strong wind

Moderate
$1.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 7 times a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.
$1.1 million 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 floodingLow65.8
$16M
Strong windModerate63.9
$1M
HurricaneLow72.1
$1M
LightningModerate78.7
$999K
Heat waveLow62.6
$965K
EarthquakeLow61.2
$710K
HailLow49.1
$372K
TornadoVery Low16.5
$248K
Cold waveVery Low11.9
$156K
DroughtLow45.3
$149K
Winter weatherLow48.9
$91K
Ice stormVery Low24.8
$34K
WildfireVery Low34.8
$28K
LandslideVery Low55.0
$3K
AvalancheVery Low8.5
$8

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 relatively high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Hurricane6
Severe Storm5
Snowstorm4
Flood2
Drought1
Winter Storm1

Most recent

Jan 23, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
Mar 11, 2022Severe Winter Storm and SnowstormMajor disaster
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
Sep 12, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Sep 18, 2003Hurricane IsabelMajor disaster
Show all 19
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 27, 1996Flooding, High Winds, and Wind Driven RainMajor disaster
Jan 13, 1996Blizzard of 96 (Severe Snow Storm)Major disaster
Apr 11, 1994Severe Winter Ice StormMajor disaster
Mar 25, 1993Severe Winter StormEmergency
Jul 23, 1977DroughtEmergency
Jun 23, 1972Tropical Storm AgnesMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1953

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 798 storm reports in Fauquier County since 1953, with 2 deaths and 19 injuries and about $12 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on September 17, 2004 near Remington.

28tornadoes
87hail reports, largest 2.5 inches
513damaging thunderstorm winds
148floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Sep 17, 2004F3Remington2 / 0
Apr 1, 1973F3–0 / 0
Sep 17, 2004F2Warrenton0 / 0
Sep 27, 1993F2Warrenton2 / 0
Sep 8, 2004F2Bealeton0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Aug 30, 2005TornadoAda$2M
Apr 23, 1999HailUpperville$1M
May 13, 2000HailWarrenton$1M
Sep 17, 2004TornadoWarrenton$750K
Apr 16, 1993Tornado–$500K
Sep 27, 1993TornadoWarrenton$500K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 28, 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 1876, 2 hurricanes and 11 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Fauquier County, 4 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1878, with top winds near 95 mph about 41 miles away.

2hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
11tropical storms
2003most recent: Isabel

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 23, 1878UnnamedCategory 1, 95 mph41 mi
Oct 13, 1893UnnamedCategory 1, 80 mph50 mi
Sep 17, 1876UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph47 mi
Aug 23, 1933UnnamedTropical storm, 65 mph54 mi
Aug 29, 1893UnnamedTropical storm, 65 mph54 mi
Sep 19, 2003IsabelTropical storm, 60 mph57 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 19, 2003IsabelTropical storm, 60 mph57 mi
Sep 6, 1979DavidTropical storm, 45 mph55 mi
Aug 18, 1955DianeTropical storm, 50 mph58 mi
Sep 1, 1952AbleTropical storm, 60 mph65 mi
Aug 29, 1949UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph55 mi
Oct 1, 1943UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph64 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 Fauquier County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.4%of homes have federal flood insurance (138 policies)
6.7%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$175,371paid on 33 flood claims since 1978
1981costliest year, with $50,000 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 Fauquier County

$573,700median home value (Virginia $383,700, US $332,700)
1987median year homes were built (Virginia 1984, US 1980)
35%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
1.6%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; 28,621 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
Prince William CountyModerate18
Loudoun CountyLow14
Stafford CountyLow18
Culpeper CountyLow21
Warren CountyVery Low21
Clarke CountyVery Low18
Rappahannock CountyVery Low23

Common questions about Fauquier County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Fauquier County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Fauquier County, about $16.2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Strong wind is second at $1.2 million.

How many federal disasters has Fauquier County had?

Fauquier County has been included in 19 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 Fauquier County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 39th 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 Fauquier County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 250 homes in Fauquier 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 Fauquier County had?

NOAA records list 28 tornadoes in Fauquier County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on September 17, 2004 near Remington. The weather service has also logged 87 hail reports and 148 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Fauquier County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 2 hurricanes and 11 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Fauquier County. 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 county, not a single property, and are not insurance or safety advice. Report a problem.