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Giles County, Virginia

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

Very Low overall risk
91st of 133highest risk in Virginia
$5Mexpected losses a year
20federal declarations
1 in 91homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

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

$4.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 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.
$425,138 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 5 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.

Earthquake

Very Low
$155,889 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 765 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow42.2
$4M
Cold waveLow34.1
$425K
EarthquakeVery Low43.2
$156K
Strong windLow17.4
$127K
LightningLow30.7
$94K
TornadoVery Low10.2
$56K
HailVery Low13.8
$37K
LandslideModerate87.8
$37K
Winter weatherLow31.6
$27K
HurricaneVery Low36.9
$20K
DroughtVery Low22.6
$6K
Ice stormVery Low11.6
$5K
WildfireVery Low12.9
$4K
AvalancheLow68.9
$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

Severe Storm6
Hurricane4
Flood3
Snowstorm3
Tropical Storm2
Drought1

Most recent

Jan 23, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
Apr 4, 2025Severe Winter Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 1, 2024Tropical Storm HeleneMajor disaster
Sep 29, 2024Post-Tropical Cyclone HeleneEmergency
Sep 11, 2018Hurricane FlorenceEmergency
Oct 29, 2012Hurricane SandyEmergency
Jul 27, 2012Severe Storms and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Sep 12, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Oct 18, 2004Severe Storms and Flooding From the Remanants of Hurricane JeanneMajor disaster
Dec 9, 2003Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 20
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
Jul 1, 1995Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 10, 1994Severe Ice Storms, FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 25, 1993Severe Winter StormEmergency
Apr 7, 1977Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 15, 1976DroughtEmergency
Jun 23, 1972Tropical Storm AgnesMajor disaster

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.

0tornadoes
72hail reports, largest 2.5 inches
127damaging thunderstorm winds
84floods and flash floods

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Mar 13, 2010Flash FloodBane$2M
May 22, 2020FloodLurich$970K
Jul 25, 2002Flash FloodPembroke$750K
Nov 19, 2003Flash FloodPembroke$700K
Jun 29, 2012Thunderstorm WindBluff City$400K
Jan 19, 1996Flash FloodCountywide$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.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
5tropical storms
1989most recent: Hugo

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 28, 1949UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph64 mi
Sep 13, 1878UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph60 mi
Sep 22, 1989HugoTropical storm, 55 mph58 mi
Sep 1, 1952AbleTropical storm, 45 mph65 mi
Sep 5, 1979DavidTropical storm, 45 mph63 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 22, 1989HugoTropical storm, 55 mph58 mi
Sep 5, 1979DavidTropical storm, 45 mph63 mi
Sep 1, 1952AbleTropical storm, 45 mph65 mi
Aug 28, 1949UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph64 mi
Sep 13, 1878UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph60 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 ›
1.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (89 policies)
13.3%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1.7 millionpaid on 88 flood claims since 1978
2024costliest year, with $473,744 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 Giles County

$151,100median home value (Virginia $383,700, US $332,700)
1972median year homes were built (Virginia 1984, US 1980)
61%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
19.4%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; 8,338 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
Mercer County, WVLow25
Pulaski CountyLow20
Monroe County, WVVery Low17
Summers County, WVVery Low22
Bland CountyVery Low16
Craig CountyVery Low24

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.