King William County, Virginia
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
King William County, Virginia has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 92% of US counties. It ranks 112th of 133 counties in Virginia. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, drought and hurricanes. FEMA estimates about $6.3 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $354 per resident. Since 1969 it has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (16 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (64 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $2.4 million on 89 claims here, including $2.1 million for floods in 2003.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in King William 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.
- Check local water restrictions.
- Choose drought-tolerant plants.
- 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.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 14.4 | $3M | ||
| Drought | 86.7 | $2M | ||
| Hurricane | 63.7 | $459K | ||
| Tornado | 19.4 | $333K | ||
| Coastal flooding | 50.6 | $206K | ||
| Earthquake | 36.6 | $184K | ||
| Heat wave | 26.4 | $161K | ||
| Strong wind | 12.8 | $152K | ||
| Lightning | 13.5 | $70K | ||
| Hail | 8.4 | $37K | ||
| Ice storm | 22.0 | $29K | ||
| Cold wave | 4.4 | $13K | ||
| Winter weather | 8.6 | $9K | ||
| Wildfire | 8.9 | $4K | ||
| Landslide | 32.2 | $553 |
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 William County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 22
Virginia also had 6 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1960
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 199 storm reports in King William County since 1960, with 1 death and 0 injuries and about $4.2 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on October 18, 1990.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 18, 1990 | F3 | – | 0 / 1 |
| May 31, 2008 | EF0 | Etna Mills | 0 / 0 |
| Oct 24, 2017 | EF0 | Lanesville | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 8, 2004 | F0 | Aylett | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 20, 2008 | EF0 | Enfield | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 18, 1990 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Aug 30, 2004 | Flash Flood | Mangohick | $1M |
| Sep 16, 1999 | Flash Flood | Countywide | $275K |
| May 31, 2008 | Tornado | Etna Mills | $50K |
| Oct 24, 2017 | Tornado | Lanesville | $50K |
| Jul 29, 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | King William | $45K |
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, 5 hurricanes and 21 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of King William County, 11 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1878, with top winds near 100 mph about 63 miles away.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 23, 1878 | Unnamed | Category 2, 100 mph | 63 mi |
| Aug 23, 1933 | Unnamed | Category 1, 80 mph | 64 mi |
| Oct 13, 1893 | Unnamed | Category 1, 80 mph | 65 mi |
| Aug 13, 1955 | Connie | Category 1, 75 mph | 60 mi |
| Sep 17, 1876 | Unnamed | Category 1, 75 mph | 44 mi |
| Aug 4, 2020 | Isaias | Tropical storm, 70 mph | 63 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 9, 2021 | Elsa | Tropical storm, 55 mph | 53 mi |
| Aug 4, 2020 | Isaias | Tropical storm, 70 mph | 63 mi |
| Sep 6, 2008 | Hanna | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 42 mi |
| Aug 30, 2004 | Gaston | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 44 mi |
| Sep 19, 2003 | Isabel | Tropical storm, 70 mph | 61 mi |
| Jul 13, 1996 | Bertha | Tropical storm, 70 mph | 53 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 William 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 William 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; 7,730 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Hanover County | 20 | |
| Caroline County | 22 | |
| New Kent County | 20 | |
| King and Queen County | 23 |
Common questions about King William County
What is the biggest natural hazard in King William County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in King William County, about $2.6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Drought is second at $2 million.
How many federal disasters has King William County had?
King William County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1969, including 16 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.
Is King William County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 112th 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 William County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 111 homes in King William 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 William County had?
NOAA records list 8 tornadoes in King William County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on October 18, 1990. The weather service has also logged 22 hail reports and 23 floods here.
How many hurricanes have hit King William County?
NOAA's hurricane records show 5 hurricanes and 21 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of King William 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.