Giles County, Virginia
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Giles County, Virginia has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 83% of US counties. It ranks 91st of 133 counties in Virginia. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and earthquakes. FEMA estimates about $5.4 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $321 per resident. Since 1972 it has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (13 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). About 1 in 91 homes here carry federal flood insurance (89 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.7 million on 88 claims here.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Giles 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.
- Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
- Know how to shut off the main water valve.
- Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
- Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 42.2 | $4M | ||
| Cold wave | 34.1 | $425K | ||
| Earthquake | 43.2 | $156K | ||
| Strong wind | 17.4 | $127K | ||
| Lightning | 30.7 | $94K | ||
| Tornado | 10.2 | $56K | ||
| Hail | 13.8 | $37K | ||
| Landslide | 87.8 | $37K | ||
| Winter weather | 31.6 | $27K | ||
| Hurricane | 36.9 | $20K | ||
| Drought | 22.6 | $6K | ||
| Ice storm | 11.6 | $5K | ||
| Wildfire | 12.9 | $4K | ||
| Avalanche | 68.9 | $3K |
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 high and community resilience is relatively moderate in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Giles County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 20
Virginia also had 6 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1977
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 295 storm reports in Giles County since 1977, with 0 deaths and 2 injuries and about $6.4 million in reported damage. No tornadoes are on record here.
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 13, 2010 | Flash Flood | Bane | $2M |
| May 22, 2020 | Flood | Lurich | $970K |
| Jul 25, 2002 | Flash Flood | Pembroke | $750K |
| Nov 19, 2003 | Flash Flood | Pembroke | $700K |
| Jun 29, 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | Bluff City | $400K |
| Jan 19, 1996 | Flash Flood | Countywide | $350K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 12, 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 5 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Giles County, 3 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1949, with top winds near 60 mph about 64 miles away.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 28, 1949 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 64 mi |
| Sep 13, 1878 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 60 mi |
| Sep 22, 1989 | Hugo | Tropical storm, 55 mph | 58 mi |
| Sep 1, 1952 | Able | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 65 mi |
| Sep 5, 1979 | David | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 63 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 22, 1989 | Hugo | Tropical storm, 55 mph | 58 mi |
| Sep 5, 1979 | David | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 63 mi |
| Sep 1, 1952 | Able | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 65 mi |
| Aug 28, 1949 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 64 mi |
| Sep 13, 1878 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 60 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 Giles 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 Giles 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; 8,338 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Montgomery County | 22 | |
| Mercer County, WV | 25 | |
| Pulaski County | 20 | |
| Monroe County, WV | 17 | |
| Summers County, WV | 22 | |
| Bland County | 16 | |
| Craig County | 24 |
Common questions about Giles County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Giles County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Giles County, about $4.4 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $425,138.
How many federal disasters has Giles County had?
Giles County has been included in 20 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 Giles County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 91st 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 Giles County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 91 homes in Giles 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 Giles County had?
NOAA records list 0 tornadoes in Giles County since 1950. The weather service has also logged 72 hail reports and 84 floods here.
How many hurricanes have hit Giles County?
NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 5 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Giles County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1949, with winds near 60 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.