Fauquier County, Virginia
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
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
- 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.
- Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
- Have trees near the house checked.
- 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.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 65.8 | $16M | ||
| Strong wind | 63.9 | $1M | ||
| Hurricane | 72.1 | $1M | ||
| Lightning | 78.7 | $999K | ||
| Heat wave | 62.6 | $965K | ||
| Earthquake | 61.2 | $710K | ||
| Hail | 49.1 | $372K | ||
| Tornado | 16.5 | $248K | ||
| Cold wave | 11.9 | $156K | ||
| Drought | 45.3 | $149K | ||
| Winter weather | 48.9 | $91K | ||
| Ice storm | 24.8 | $34K | ||
| Wildfire | 34.8 | $28K | ||
| Landslide | 55.0 | $3K | ||
| Avalanche | 8.5 | $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
Most recent
Show all 19
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.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 17, 2004 | F3 | Remington | 2 / 0 |
| Apr 1, 1973 | F3 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 17, 2004 | F2 | Warrenton | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 27, 1993 | F2 | Warrenton | 2 / 0 |
| Sep 8, 2004 | F2 | Bealeton | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 30, 2005 | Tornado | Ada | $2M |
| Apr 23, 1999 | Hail | Upperville | $1M |
| May 13, 2000 | Hail | Warrenton | $1M |
| Sep 17, 2004 | Tornado | Warrenton | $750K |
| Apr 16, 1993 | Tornado | – | $500K |
| Sep 27, 1993 | Tornado | Warrenton | $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.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 23, 1878 | Unnamed | Category 1, 95 mph | 41 mi |
| Oct 13, 1893 | Unnamed | Category 1, 80 mph | 50 mi |
| Sep 17, 1876 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 70 mph | 47 mi |
| Aug 23, 1933 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 65 mph | 54 mi |
| Aug 29, 1893 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 65 mph | 54 mi |
| Sep 19, 2003 | Isabel | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 57 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 19, 2003 | Isabel | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 57 mi |
| Sep 6, 1979 | David | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 55 mi |
| Aug 18, 1955 | Diane | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 58 mi |
| Sep 1, 1952 | Able | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 65 mi |
| Aug 29, 1949 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 55 mi |
| Oct 1, 1943 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 64 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 ›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
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 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Prince William County | 18 | |
| Loudoun County | 14 | |
| Stafford County | 18 | |
| Culpeper County | 21 | |
| Warren County | 21 | |
| Clarke County | 18 | |
| Rappahannock County | 23 |
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.