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Grayson County, Virginia

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

Very Low overall risk
69th of 133highest risk in Virginia
$6Mexpected losses a year
19federal declarations
1 in 500homes with flood insurance
Photo: Bold Frontiers, CC BY 2.0

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

Cold wave

Moderate
$2.5 million 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.
$2.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once 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.
$207,978 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 10 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Cold waveModerate79.5
$3M
Inland floodingVery Low28.4
$2M
DroughtLow60.5
$208K
LightningLow55.4
$202K
TornadoVery Low18.6
$151K
Strong windLow22.8
$150K
EarthquakeVery Low39.9
$109K
HurricaneVery Low54.2
$80K
LandslideModerate91.3
$47K
Ice stormLow41.2
$40K
HailVery Low15.9
$39K
WildfireVery Low45.6
$25K
Winter weatherLow27.3
$19K
AvalancheVery Low44.6
$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

Hurricane5
Snowstorm4
Flood3
Drought2
Severe Storm2
Tropical Storm2

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
Dec 18, 2018Tropical Storm MichaelMajor disaster
Oct 15, 2018Hurricane FlorenceMajor disaster
Sep 11, 2018Hurricane FlorenceEmergency
Oct 29, 2012Hurricane SandyEmergency
Feb 16, 2010Severe Winter Storm and SnowstormMajor disaster
Sep 12, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Show all 19
Feb 28, 2000Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Jan 27, 1996Flooding, High Winds, and Wind Driven RainMajor disaster
Jan 13, 1996Blizzard of 96 (Severe Snow Storm)Major disaster
Mar 10, 1994Severe Ice Storms, FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 25, 1993Severe Winter StormEmergency
Nov 12, 1977Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 23, 1977DroughtEmergency
Apr 7, 1977Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 15, 1976DroughtEmergency

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.

4tornadoes
80hail reports, largest 1.75 inches
84damaging thunderstorm winds
51floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Oct 23, 2017EF1Providence0 / 0
Jul 10, 1959F1–0 / 0
Jul 5, 2022EF1Baywood0 / 0
May 6, 2009EF0Oldtown0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Sep 27, 2024Flash FloodWhitetop$61M
Sep 26, 2024FloodReavistown$2M
Sep 26, 2024FloodPeachy Bottom$500K
May 16, 2010Flash FloodFallville$300K
Jan 19, 1996Flash FloodCountywide$250K
Apr 13, 2020FloodFries$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.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
5tropical storms
2020most recent: Zeta

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 22, 1989HugoTropical storm, 65 mph59 mi
Aug 28, 1949UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph57 mi
Oct 29, 2020ZetaTropical storm, 50 mph48 mi
Aug 3, 1915UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph62 mi
Sep 30, 1959GracieTropical storm, 45 mph62 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 29, 2020ZetaTropical storm, 50 mph48 mi
Sep 22, 1989HugoTropical storm, 65 mph59 mi
Sep 30, 1959GracieTropical storm, 45 mph62 mi
Aug 28, 1949UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph57 mi
Aug 3, 1915UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph62 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 ›
0.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (17 policies)
6.2%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$11,403paid on 6 flood claims since 1978
2024costliest year, with $9,384 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 Grayson County

$150,100median home value (Virginia $383,700, US $332,700)
1975median year homes were built (Virginia 1984, US 1980)
58%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
17.6%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; 8,961 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
Surry County, NCLow18
Washington CountyLow18
Smyth CountyLow19
Carroll CountyLow15
Wythe CountyLow16
Ashe County, NCLow24
Johnson County, TNVery Low18
Alleghany County, NCVery Low18

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.