King George County, Virginia
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
King George County, Virginia has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 87% of US counties. It ranks 99th of 133 counties in Virginia. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, hurricanes and drought. FEMA estimates about $8.2 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $308 per resident. Since 1972 it has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (18 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). Only 41 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $91,000 on 16 claims here.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in King George 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.
- Know your evacuation zone and route before June 1.
- Ask about roof age, shutters and the separate wind or hurricane deductible on your home policy.
- Check local water restrictions.
- Choose drought-tolerant plants.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 19.3 | $3M | ||
| Hurricane | 79.8 | $3M | ||
| Drought | 62.2 | $479K | ||
| Strong wind | 25.0 | $353K | ||
| Heat wave | 37.0 | $296K | ||
| Earthquake | 39.7 | $226K | ||
| Tornado | 12.3 | $143K | ||
| Lightning | 25.9 | $138K | ||
| Cold wave | 9.1 | $94K | ||
| Hail | 17.7 | $93K | ||
| Coastal flooding | 43.6 | $59K | ||
| Winter weather | 23.9 | $33K | ||
| Ice storm | 21.9 | $29K | ||
| Landslide | 72.1 | $11K | ||
| Wildfire | 12.4 | $6K |
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 relatively high in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included King George County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 25
Virginia also had 6 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1963
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 262 storm reports in King George County since 1963, with 0 deaths and 1 injury and about $2.1 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on September 5, 1979.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 5, 1979 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 17, 2004 | F1 | Comorn | 0 / 0 |
| May 7, 2004 | F1 | Shiloh | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 8, 2004 | F1 | Sealston | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 10, 2003 | F1 | Fairview Beach | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 7, 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | King George | $500K |
| Sep 17, 2004 | Tornado | Comorn | $500K |
| Sep 5, 1979 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Sep 6, 1996 | Storm Surge/Tide | Along Potomac River | $250K |
| Jul 4, 2008 | Lightning | King George | $50K |
| Aug 1, 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Fairview Beach | $50K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 28, 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, 2 hurricanes and 22 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of King George County, 8 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1878, with top winds near 100 mph about 64 miles away.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 23, 1878 | Unnamed | Category 2, 100 mph | 64 mi |
| Oct 13, 1893 | Unnamed | Category 1, 80 mph | 57 mi |
| Aug 23, 1933 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 70 mph | 50 mi |
| Sep 17, 1876 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 70 mph | 57 mi |
| Aug 4, 2020 | Isaias | Tropical storm, 70 mph | 45 mi |
| Jul 13, 1996 | Bertha | Tropical storm, 70 mph | 63 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 9, 2021 | Elsa | Tropical storm, 55 mph | 63 mi |
| Aug 4, 2020 | Isaias | Tropical storm, 70 mph | 45 mi |
| Sep 6, 2008 | Hanna | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 59 mi |
| Jul 13, 1996 | Bertha | Tropical storm, 70 mph | 63 mi |
| Jun 3, 1963 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 61 mi |
| Aug 18, 1955 | Diane | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 65 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 King George 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 King George 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; 10,679 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Charles County, MD | 22 | |
| Stafford County | 18 | |
| Caroline County | 22 | |
| Westmoreland County | 23 | |
| Essex County | 25 |
Common questions about King George County
What is the biggest natural hazard in King George County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in King George County, about $3.4 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Hurricane is second at $2.8 million.
How many federal disasters has King George County had?
King George County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1972, including 18 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.
Is King George County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 99th 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 King George County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 200 homes in King George 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 King George County had?
NOAA records list 8 tornadoes in King George County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on September 5, 1979. The weather service has also logged 32 hail reports and 31 floods here.
How many hurricanes have hit King George County?
NOAA's hurricane records show 2 hurricanes and 22 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of King George 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.