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Floyd County, Virginia

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

Very Low overall risk
117th of 133highest risk in Virginia
$4Mexpected losses a year
20federal declarations
1 in 500homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Floyd County, Virginia has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 93% of US counties. It ranks 117th of 133 counties in Virginia. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and drought. FEMA estimates about $3.8 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $247 per resident. Since 1972 it has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (14 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). Only 12 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $725,000 on 19 claims here.

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

Top risks in Floyd County

$2.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once 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.
$540,928 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 4 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.

Drought

Moderate
$411,577 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 5 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low17.3
$2M
Cold waveLow34.0
$541K
DroughtModerate64.6
$412K
Strong windLow18.9
$178K
HurricaneVery Low53.3
$110K
TornadoVery Low11.0
$83K
EarthquakeVery Low28.2
$67K
WildfireVery Low49.4
$48K
HailVery Low11.3
$39K
LandslideLow86.0
$37K
LightningVery Low9.9
$35K
Winter weatherVery Low22.4
$22K
Ice stormVery Low16.6
$12K
AvalancheVery Low39.9
$276
Heat waveVery Low2.4
$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 relatively 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 Floyd County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm6
Hurricane5
Snowstorm3
Flood2
Drought1
Severe Ice Storm1

Most recent

Jan 23, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
Apr 4, 2025Severe Winter Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 1, 2024Tropical Storm HeleneMajor disaster
May 10, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Dec 18, 2018Tropical Storm MichaelMajor disaster
Oct 15, 2018Hurricane FlorenceMajor disaster
Sep 11, 2018Hurricane FlorenceEmergency
Oct 29, 2012Hurricane SandyEmergency
Jul 27, 2012Severe Storms and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Jul 13, 2006Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 20
Sep 12, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Oct 18, 2004Severe Storms and Flooding From the Remanants of Hurricane JeanneMajor disaster
Mar 27, 2003Severe Winter Storm, Record/Near Record Snowfall, Heavy Rain,Floodind, and MudslideMajor disaster
Feb 28, 2000Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Jan 13, 1996Blizzard of 96 (Severe Snow Storm)Major disaster
Mar 10, 1994Severe Ice Storms, FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 25, 1993Severe Winter StormEmergency
May 19, 1992Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 23, 1977DroughtEmergency
Jun 23, 1972Tropical Storm AgnesMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1989

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 210 storm reports in Floyd County since 1989 and about $4.3 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F1 tornado on January 23, 1999 near Indian Vly.

2tornadoes
73hail reports, largest 1.75 inches
92damaging thunderstorm winds
24floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jan 23, 1999F1Indian Vly0 / 0
May 3, 2009EF0Indian Vly0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Sep 29, 2015Flash FloodShelors Mill$3M
Jan 8, 1998Flash FloodCountywide$225K
Jun 29, 2012Thunderstorm WindSowers$200K
Jun 25, 2006FloodEast Portion$155K
Oct 11, 2018Flash FloodCopper Vly$129K
Jun 2, 1998Thunderstorm WindCountywide$50K

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 1878, 0 hurricanes and 6 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Floyd County, 2 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1893, with top winds near 70 mph about 60 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
6tropical storms
1979most recent: David

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 28, 1893UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph60 mi
Sep 12, 1878UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph65 mi
Aug 28, 1949UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph63 mi
Sep 1, 1952AbleTropical storm, 50 mph50 mi
Sep 5, 1979DavidTropical storm, 45 mph52 mi
Aug 3, 1915UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph47 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 5, 1979DavidTropical storm, 45 mph52 mi
Sep 1, 1952AbleTropical storm, 50 mph50 mi
Aug 28, 1949UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph63 mi
Aug 3, 1915UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph47 mi
Aug 28, 1893UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph60 mi
Sep 12, 1878UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph65 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 Floyd County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (12 policies)
9.1%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$725,083paid on 19 flood claims since 1978
2015costliest year, with $421,592 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 Floyd County

$225,400median home value (Virginia $383,700, US $332,700)
1987median year homes were built (Virginia 1984, US 1980)
41%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
18.6%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; 7,977 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
Montgomery CountyLow22
Roanoke CountyLow21
Franklin CountyVery Low20
Pulaski CountyLow20
Carroll CountyLow15
Patrick CountyVery Low17

Common questions about Floyd County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Floyd County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Floyd County, about $2.2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $540,928.

How many federal disasters has Floyd County had?

Floyd County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1972, including 14 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is Floyd County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 117th 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 Floyd County?

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

NOAA records list 2 tornadoes in Floyd County since 1950. The strongest was an F1 tornado on January 23, 1999 near Indian Vly. The weather service has also logged 73 hail reports and 24 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Floyd County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 6 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Floyd County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1893, with winds near 70 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.