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Henrico County, Virginia

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

Relatively Moderate overall risk
3rd of 133highest risk in Virginia
$58Mexpected losses a year
20federal declarations
1 in 91homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Henrico County, Virginia has a moderate overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 83% of US counties. It ranks 3rd of 133 counties in Virginia. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, earthquakes and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $58 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $173 per resident. Since 1969 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 (782 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $4.2 million on 357 claims here, including $1.3 million for floods in 2004.

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

Top risks in Henrico County

$30.8 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.

Earthquake

Moderate
$11.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 405 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.

Tornado

Moderate
$4.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 7 years.
  • Pick a shelter spot: a basement, or an inside room on the lowest floor with no windows.
  • Turn on emergency alerts on your phone and keep a weather radio.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingModerate85.4
$31M
EarthquakeModerate93.4
$11M
TornadoModerate81.0
$5M
Heat waveModerate87.9
$3M
HurricaneModerate81.8
$3M
Strong windModerate82.0
$2M
LightningHigh89.1
$1M
DroughtModerate77.8
$926K
Ice stormHigh84.3
$660K
Winter weatherHigh89.0
$436K
HailLow52.1
$327K
Cold waveVery Low8.1
$63K
WildfireVery Low34.5
$21K
Coastal floodingVery Low35.8
$10K
LandslideVery Low59.1
$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 low and community resilience is relatively high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Hurricane9
Snowstorm4
Flood2
Severe Storm2
Freezing1
Drought1

Most recent

Jan 23, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
Sep 11, 2018Hurricane FlorenceEmergency
Mar 7, 2016Severe Winter Storm and SnowstormMajor disaster
Oct 29, 2012Hurricane SandyEmergency
Sep 3, 2011Hurricane IreneMajor disaster
Aug 26, 2011Hurricane IreneEmergency
Sep 12, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Sep 3, 2004Severe Storms, Flooding and Tornadoes Associated W Td GastonMajor disaster
Sep 18, 2003Hurricane IsabelMajor disaster
Feb 28, 2000Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Show all 20
Sep 18, 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster DeclarationsMajor disaster
Sep 6, 1996Hurricane Fran and Associated Severe Storm CondMajor disaster
Jan 13, 1996Blizzard of 96 (Severe Snow Storm)Major disaster
Mar 10, 1994Severe Ice Storms, FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 25, 1993Severe Winter StormEmergency
Nov 9, 1985Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 23, 1977DroughtEmergency
Jan 26, 1977Ice ConditionsMajor disaster
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 1956

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 564 storm reports in Henrico County since 1956, with 4 deaths and 25 injuries and about $8.2 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F1 tornado on June 16, 1989.

11tornadoes
105hail reports, largest 2.4 inches
308damaging thunderstorm winds
71floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 16, 1989F1–0 / 0
Oct 27, 2010EF1East Highland Park0 / 0
Jul 20, 1956F1–0 / 0
Sep 23, 2003F1Lakeside0 / 0
May 11, 2006F1Varina Grove0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 16, 1989Tornado–$3M
Aug 30, 2004Flash FloodCountywide$2M
Sep 16, 1999Flash FloodCountywide$600K
Jun 24, 1996LightningGlen Allen$500K
Oct 27, 2010TornadoEast Highland Park$500K
Jun 29, 2012Thunderstorm WindShort Pump$420K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 27, 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, 6 hurricanes and 21 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Henrico County, 11 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1878, with top winds near 100 mph about 46 miles away.

6hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
21tropical storms
2021most recent: Elsa

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 23, 1878UnnamedCategory 2, 100 mph46 mi
Oct 13, 1893UnnamedCategory 1, 80 mph53 mi
Aug 23, 1933UnnamedCategory 1, 80 mph59 mi
Sep 17, 1876UnnamedCategory 1, 75 mph49 mi
Sep 18, 2003IsabelCategory 1, 75 mph56 mi
Aug 13, 1955ConnieCategory 1, 75 mph64 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Jul 9, 2021ElsaTropical storm, 55 mph48 mi
Aug 4, 2020IsaiasTropical storm, 70 mph44 mi
Sep 6, 2008HannaTropical storm, 50 mph48 mi
Aug 30, 2004GastonTropical storm, 40 mph42 mi
Sep 18, 2003IsabelCategory 1, 75 mph56 mi
Jul 13, 1996BerthaTropical storm, 70 mph54 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 Henrico County

Check your address flood zone ›
1.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (782 policies)
95.2%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$4.2 millionpaid on 357 flood claims since 1978
2004costliest year, with $1.3 million 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 Henrico County

$359,200median home value (Virginia $383,700, US $332,700)
1985median year homes were built (Virginia 1984, US 1980)
41%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
0.3%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; 144,916 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
Richmond CityLow18
Hanover CountyLow20
Powhatan CountyVery Low22
Goochland CountyVery Low19
New Kent CountyVery Low20
Charles City CountyVery Low17

Cities in Henrico County

Common questions about Henrico County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Henrico County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Henrico County, about $30.8 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Earthquake is second at $11.2 million.

How many federal disasters has Henrico County had?

Henrico County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1969, including 13 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is Henrico County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 3rd 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 Henrico County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 91 homes in Henrico 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 Henrico County had?

NOAA records list 11 tornadoes in Henrico County since 1950. The strongest was an F1 tornado on June 16, 1989. The weather service has also logged 105 hail reports and 71 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Henrico County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 6 hurricanes and 21 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Henrico 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.