Goochland County, Virginia
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
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
- 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.
- Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
- Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
- Check local water restrictions.
- Choose drought-tolerant plants.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 28.7 | $4M | ||
| Earthquake | 71.5 | $1M | ||
| Drought | 70.6 | $701K | ||
| Strong wind | 43.0 | $584K | ||
| Tornado | 24.8 | $471K | ||
| Hurricane | 60.2 | $281K | ||
| Heat wave | 28.7 | $162K | ||
| Lightning | 25.6 | $119K | ||
| Hail | 13.1 | $56K | ||
| Ice storm | 32.6 | $49K | ||
| Cold wave | 4.4 | $12K | ||
| Winter weather | 8.7 | $8K | ||
| Wildfire | 9.5 | $4K | ||
| Landslide | 32.8 | $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
Most recent
Show all 19
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.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 8, 1962 | F2 | – | 2 / 1 |
| Oct 13, 1983 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 16, 2022 | EF1 | Galedonia | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 27, 2011 | EF1 | Oilville | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 17, 2004 | F1 | Oilville | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 9, 1977 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Oct 13, 1983 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Jun 16, 2022 | Tornado | Galedonia | $100K |
| May 4, 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | Goochland | $30K |
| Apr 26, 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | Fife | $30K |
| Apr 27, 2011 | Tornado | Oilville | $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.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 23, 1878 | Unnamed | Category 2, 100 mph | 52 mi |
| Oct 13, 1893 | Unnamed | Category 1, 85 mph | 65 mi |
| Sep 17, 1876 | Unnamed | Category 1, 75 mph | 55 mi |
| Aug 23, 1933 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 70 mph | 62 mi |
| Sep 19, 2003 | Isabel | Tropical storm, 70 mph | 49 mi |
| Aug 4, 2020 | Isaias | Tropical storm, 70 mph | 59 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 9, 2021 | Elsa | Tropical storm, 55 mph | 64 mi |
| Aug 4, 2020 | Isaias | Tropical storm, 70 mph | 59 mi |
| Sep 6, 2008 | Hanna | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 59 mi |
| Sep 19, 2003 | Isabel | Tropical storm, 70 mph | 49 mi |
| Aug 18, 1955 | Diane | Tropical storm, 55 mph | 60 mi |
| Sep 1, 1952 | Able | Tropical storm, 55 mph | 59 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 ›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
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 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Chesterfield County | 23 | |
| Henrico County | 20 | |
| Hanover County | 20 | |
| Louisa County | 23 | |
| Powhatan County | 22 | |
| Fluvanna County | 21 | |
| Cumberland County | 21 |
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.