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Henry County, Virginia

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

Relatively Low overall risk
20th of 133highest risk in Virginia
$15Mexpected losses a year
14federal declarations
1 in 500homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Henry County, Virginia has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 64% of US counties. It ranks 20th of 133 counties in Virginia. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $15 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $299 per resident. Since 1972 it has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (8 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). Only 44 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $2.5 million on 148 claims here, including $881,000 for floods in 2020.

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

Top risks in Henry County

$11.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times 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.
$932,823 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
$650,175 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 10 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 floodingModerate76.6
$11M
Cold waveLow60.6
$933K
TornadoLow43.7
$650K
HurricaneLow74.1
$559K
Strong windModerate64.2
$534K
EarthquakeLow67.9
$459K
DroughtModerate67.6
$294K
LightningLow56.6
$193K
Ice stormModerate74.6
$184K
HailLow49.4
$165K
Heat waveVery Low37.3
$131K
Winter weatherLow53.7
$47K
LandslideLow86.6
$24K
WildfireVery Low22.3
$6K
AvalancheVery Low7.6
$3

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 high and community resilience is relatively low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Hurricane5
Severe Storm4
Snowstorm2
Flood1
Drought1
Winter Storm1

Most recent

Jan 23, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
Oct 15, 2018Hurricane FlorenceMajor disaster
Sep 11, 2018Hurricane FlorenceEmergency
Oct 29, 2012Hurricane SandyEmergency
Jul 13, 2006Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 12, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Mar 27, 2003Severe Winter Storm, Record/Near Record Snowfall, Heavy Rain,Floodind, and MudslideMajor disaster
Feb 28, 2000Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Sep 6, 1996Hurricane Fran and Associated Severe Storm CondMajor disaster
Jan 13, 1996Blizzard of 96 (Severe Snow Storm)Major disaster
Show all 14
Apr 11, 1994Severe Winter Ice StormMajor disaster
Mar 25, 1993Severe Winter StormEmergency
Oct 15, 1976DroughtEmergency
Jun 23, 1972Tropical Storm AgnesMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1955

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 642 storm reports in Henry County since 1955, with 3 deaths and 20 injuries and about $126 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on September 17, 2004 near Fieldale.

7tornadoes
130hail reports, largest 3 inches
405damaging thunderstorm winds
75floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Sep 17, 2004F2Fieldale4 / 0
Aug 17, 1994F2Martinsville10 / 0
Jul 12, 1964F2–3 / 0
Mar 20, 1998F1Sandy Level0 / 0
May 8, 2008EF1Figsboro0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Sep 17, 2004TornadoFieldale$54M
Aug 17, 1994TornadoMartinsville$50M
May 18, 2018Flash FloodBassett Forks$9M
Sep 30, 2010Flash FloodBassett$2M
Apr 5, 2011Thunderstorm WindMartinsville Airport$2M
May 24, 2020Flash FloodFieldale$1M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 22, 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, 1 hurricane and 12 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Henry County, 4 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1896, with top winds near 80 mph about 54 miles away.

1hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
12tropical storms
2018most recent: Michael

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 30, 1896UnnamedCategory 1, 80 mph54 mi
Aug 28, 1893UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph54 mi
Sep 12, 1878UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph38 mi
Aug 28, 1949UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph60 mi
Oct 11, 2018MichaelTropical storm, 55 mph65 mi
Sep 6, 1996FranTropical storm, 50 mph58 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 11, 2018MichaelTropical storm, 55 mph65 mi
Sep 6, 1996FranTropical storm, 50 mph58 mi
Sep 5, 1979DavidTropical storm, 50 mph61 mi
Sep 1, 1952AbleTropical storm, 50 mph65 mi
Aug 28, 1949UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph60 mi
Aug 3, 1915UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph37 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 Henry County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (44 policies)
10.9%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$2.5 millionpaid on 148 flood claims since 1978
2020costliest year, with $880,547 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 Henry County

$134,800median home value (Virginia $383,700, US $332,700)
1974median year homes were built (Virginia 1984, US 1980)
63%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
15.6%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; 25,404 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
Rockingham County, NCLow23
Pittsylvania CountyLow25
Franklin CountyVery Low20
Stokes County, NCVery Low23
Patrick CountyVery Low17
Martinsville CityVery Low11

Common questions about Henry County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Henry County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Henry County, about $11.1 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $932,823.

How many federal disasters has Henry County had?

Henry County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1972, including 8 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is Henry County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 20th 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 Henry County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 500 homes in Henry 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 Henry County had?

NOAA records list 7 tornadoes in Henry County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on September 17, 2004 near Fieldale. The weather service has also logged 130 hail reports and 75 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Henry County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 1 hurricane and 12 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Henry County. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1896, with winds near 80 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.