Grayson County, Virginia
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Grayson County, Virginia has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 75% of US counties. It ranks 69th of 133 counties in Virginia. The costliest hazards here are cold waves, inland flooding and drought. FEMA estimates about $5.9 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $387 per resident. Since 1976 it has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (11 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). Only 17 homes here carry federal flood insurance.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Grayson County
- Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
- Know how to shut off the main water valve.
- 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.
- Check local water restrictions.
- Choose drought-tolerant plants.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cold wave | 79.5 | $3M | ||
| Inland flooding | 28.4 | $2M | ||
| Drought | 60.5 | $208K | ||
| Lightning | 55.4 | $202K | ||
| Tornado | 18.6 | $151K | ||
| Strong wind | 22.8 | $150K | ||
| Earthquake | 39.9 | $109K | ||
| Hurricane | 54.2 | $80K | ||
| Landslide | 91.3 | $47K | ||
| Ice storm | 41.2 | $40K | ||
| Hail | 15.9 | $39K | ||
| Wildfire | 45.6 | $25K | ||
| Winter weather | 27.3 | $19K | ||
| Avalanche | 44.6 | $256 |
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 very low in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Grayson 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 1959
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 232 storm reports in Grayson County since 1959, with 1 death and 4 injuries and about $65 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF1 tornado on October 23, 2017 near Providence.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 23, 2017 | EF1 | Providence | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 10, 1959 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 5, 2022 | EF1 | Baywood | 0 / 0 |
| May 6, 2009 | EF0 | Oldtown | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 27, 2024 | Flash Flood | Whitetop | $61M |
| Sep 26, 2024 | Flood | Reavistown | $2M |
| Sep 26, 2024 | Flood | Peachy Bottom | $500K |
| May 16, 2010 | Flash Flood | Fallville | $300K |
| Jan 19, 1996 | Flash Flood | Countywide | $250K |
| Apr 13, 2020 | Flood | Fries | $186K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 27, 2025. 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 1915, 0 hurricanes and 5 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Grayson County, 3 of them since 1950. The strongest was Tropical Storm Hugo (1989), with top winds near 65 mph about 59 miles away.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 22, 1989 | Hugo | Tropical storm, 65 mph | 59 mi |
| Aug 28, 1949 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 57 mi |
| Oct 29, 2020 | Zeta | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 48 mi |
| Aug 3, 1915 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 62 mi |
| Sep 30, 1959 | Gracie | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 62 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 29, 2020 | Zeta | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 48 mi |
| Sep 22, 1989 | Hugo | Tropical storm, 65 mph | 59 mi |
| Sep 30, 1959 | Gracie | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 62 mi |
| Aug 28, 1949 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 57 mi |
| Aug 3, 1915 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 62 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 Grayson 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 Grayson 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; 8,961 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Surry County, NC | 18 | |
| Washington County | 18 | |
| Smyth County | 19 | |
| Carroll County | 15 | |
| Wythe County | 16 | |
| Ashe County, NC | 24 | |
| Johnson County, TN | 18 | |
| Alleghany County, NC | 18 |
Common questions about Grayson County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Grayson County?
Cold wave has the highest expected yearly losses in Grayson County, about $2.5 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $2.4 million.
How many federal disasters has Grayson County had?
Grayson County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1976, including 11 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.
Is Grayson County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 69th 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 Grayson County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 500 homes in Grayson 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 Grayson County had?
NOAA records list 4 tornadoes in Grayson County since 1950. The strongest was an EF1 tornado on October 23, 2017 near Providence. The weather service has also logged 80 hail reports and 51 floods here.
How many hurricanes have hit Grayson County?
NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 5 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Grayson County. The strongest was Tropical Storm Hugo (1989), with winds near 65 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.