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Goochland County, Virginia

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

Very Low overall risk
93rd of 133highest risk in Virginia
$8Mexpected losses a year
19federal declarations
1 in 250homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Goochland County, Virginia has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 84% of US counties. It ranks 93rd of 133 counties in Virginia. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, earthquakes and drought. FEMA estimates about $8.0 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $323 per resident. Since 1969 it has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (12 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). Only 46 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $157,000 on 18 claims here.

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

Top risks in Goochland County

$4.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 4 years.
  • 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.
$1.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 340 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.

Drought

Moderate
$700,776 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 6 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low28.7
$4M
EarthquakeLow71.5
$1M
DroughtModerate70.6
$701K
Strong windLow43.0
$584K
TornadoVery Low24.8
$471K
HurricaneLow60.2
$281K
Heat waveVery Low28.7
$162K
LightningLow25.6
$119K
HailVery Low13.1
$56K
Ice stormLow32.6
$49K
Cold waveVery Low4.4
$12K
Winter weatherVery Low8.7
$8K
WildfireVery Low9.5
$4K
LandslideVery Low32.8
$501

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 very high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Hurricane6
Snowstorm3
Severe Storm3
Flood2
Drought2
Earthquake1

Most recent

Jan 23, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
Mar 11, 2022Severe Winter Storm and SnowstormMajor disaster
May 10, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Sep 11, 2018Hurricane FlorenceEmergency
Oct 29, 2012Hurricane SandyEmergency
Nov 4, 2011EarthquakeMajor disaster
Sep 12, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Sep 18, 2003Hurricane IsabelMajor disaster
Feb 28, 2000Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Sep 6, 1996Hurricane Fran and Associated Severe Storm CondMajor disaster
Show all 19
Jan 13, 1996Blizzard of 96 (Severe Snow Storm)Major disaster
Apr 11, 1994Severe Winter Ice StormMajor disaster
Mar 10, 1994Severe Ice Storms, FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 25, 1993Severe Winter StormEmergency
Nov 9, 1985Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 23, 1977DroughtEmergency
Oct 15, 1976DroughtEmergency
Jun 23, 1972Tropical Storm AgnesMajor disaster
Aug 23, 1969Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1962

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 245 storm reports in Goochland County since 1962, with 1 death and 4 injuries and about $1.1 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on May 8, 1962.

10tornadoes
29hail reports, largest 2 inches
180damaging thunderstorm winds
5floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 8, 1962F2–2 / 1
Oct 13, 1983F1–0 / 0
Jun 16, 2022EF1Galedonia0 / 0
Apr 27, 2011EF1Oilville0 / 0
Sep 17, 2004F1Oilville0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jul 9, 1977Tornado–$250K
Oct 13, 1983Tornado–$250K
Jun 16, 2022TornadoGaledonia$100K
May 4, 2021Thunderstorm WindGoochland$30K
Apr 26, 2022Thunderstorm WindFife$30K
Apr 27, 2011TornadoOilville$25K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 21, 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 1859, 3 hurricanes and 17 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Goochland County, 6 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1878, with top winds near 100 mph about 52 miles away.

3hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
17tropical storms
2021most recent: Elsa

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 23, 1878UnnamedCategory 2, 100 mph52 mi
Oct 13, 1893UnnamedCategory 1, 85 mph65 mi
Sep 17, 1876UnnamedCategory 1, 75 mph55 mi
Aug 23, 1933UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph62 mi
Sep 19, 2003IsabelTropical storm, 70 mph49 mi
Aug 4, 2020IsaiasTropical storm, 70 mph59 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Jul 9, 2021ElsaTropical storm, 55 mph64 mi
Aug 4, 2020IsaiasTropical storm, 70 mph59 mi
Sep 6, 2008HannaTropical storm, 50 mph59 mi
Sep 19, 2003IsabelTropical storm, 70 mph49 mi
Aug 18, 1955DianeTropical storm, 55 mph60 mi
Sep 1, 1952AbleTropical storm, 55 mph59 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 Goochland County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.4%of homes have federal flood insurance (46 policies)
22.7%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$156,694paid on 18 flood claims since 1978
1985costliest year, with $100,407 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 Goochland County

$500,600median home value (Virginia $383,700, US $332,700)
2000median year homes were built (Virginia 1984, US 1980)
22%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
4.1%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; 11,208 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
Chesterfield CountyModerate23
Henrico CountyModerate20
Hanover CountyLow20
Louisa CountyVery Low23
Powhatan CountyVery Low22
Fluvanna CountyVery Low21
Cumberland CountyVery Low21

Common questions about Goochland County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Goochland County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Goochland County, about $4.4 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Earthquake is second at $1.1 million.

How many federal disasters has Goochland County had?

Goochland County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1969, including 12 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is Goochland County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 93rd 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 Goochland County?

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

NOAA records list 10 tornadoes in Goochland County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on May 8, 1962. The weather service has also logged 29 hail reports and 5 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Goochland County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 3 hurricanes and 17 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Goochland County. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1878, with winds near 100 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.