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King William County, Virginia

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

Very Low overall risk
112th of 133highest risk in Virginia
$6Mexpected losses a year
22federal declarations
1 in 111homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

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

$2.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 years.
  • 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.

Drought

Moderate
$2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 4 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
$458,788 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 7 years.
  • 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low14.4
$3M
DroughtModerate86.7
$2M
HurricaneLow63.7
$459K
TornadoVery Low19.4
$333K
Coastal floodingLow50.6
$206K
EarthquakeVery Low36.6
$184K
Heat waveVery Low26.4
$161K
Strong windVery Low12.8
$152K
LightningVery Low13.5
$70K
HailVery Low8.4
$37K
Ice stormVery Low22.0
$29K
Cold waveVery Low4.4
$13K
Winter weatherVery Low8.6
$9K
WildfireVery Low8.9
$4K
LandslideVery Low32.2
$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

Hurricane10
Severe Storm4
Snowstorm3
Flood1
Freezing1
Drought1

Most recent

Jan 23, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
Mar 11, 2022Severe Winter Storm and SnowstormMajor disaster
May 10, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Dec 18, 2018Tropical Storm MichaelMajor disaster
Oct 15, 2018Hurricane FlorenceMajor disaster
Sep 11, 2018Hurricane FlorenceEmergency
Oct 29, 2012Hurricane SandyEmergency
Sep 3, 2011Hurricane IreneMajor disaster
Sep 22, 2006Tropical Depression Ernesto, Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 12, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Show all 22
Sep 3, 2004Severe Storms, Flooding and Tornadoes Associated W Td GastonMajor disaster
Sep 18, 2003Hurricane IsabelMajor disaster
Feb 28, 2000Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
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
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 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.

8tornadoes
22hail reports, largest 1.75 inches
120damaging thunderstorm winds
23floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Oct 18, 1990F3–0 / 1
May 31, 2008EF0Etna Mills0 / 0
Oct 24, 2017EF0Lanesville0 / 0
Sep 8, 2004F0Aylett0 / 0
Apr 20, 2008EF0Enfield0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Oct 18, 1990Tornado–$3M
Aug 30, 2004Flash FloodMangohick$1M
Sep 16, 1999Flash FloodCountywide$275K
May 31, 2008TornadoEtna Mills$50K
Oct 24, 2017TornadoLanesville$50K
Jul 29, 2021Thunderstorm WindKing 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.

5hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
21tropical storms
2021most recent: Elsa

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 23, 1878UnnamedCategory 2, 100 mph63 mi
Aug 23, 1933UnnamedCategory 1, 80 mph64 mi
Oct 13, 1893UnnamedCategory 1, 80 mph65 mi
Aug 13, 1955ConnieCategory 1, 75 mph60 mi
Sep 17, 1876UnnamedCategory 1, 75 mph44 mi
Aug 4, 2020IsaiasTropical storm, 70 mph63 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Jul 9, 2021ElsaTropical storm, 55 mph53 mi
Aug 4, 2020IsaiasTropical storm, 70 mph63 mi
Sep 6, 2008HannaTropical storm, 50 mph42 mi
Aug 30, 2004GastonTropical storm, 40 mph44 mi
Sep 19, 2003IsabelTropical storm, 70 mph61 mi
Jul 13, 1996BerthaTropical storm, 70 mph53 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 ›
0.9%of homes have federal flood insurance (64 policies)
34.4%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$2.4 millionpaid on 89 flood claims since 1978
2003costliest year, with $2.1 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 King William County

$315,700median home value (Virginia $383,700, US $332,700)
1996median year homes were built (Virginia 1984, US 1980)
28%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
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; 7,730 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
Hanover CountyLow20
Caroline CountyVery Low22
New Kent CountyVery Low20
King and Queen CountyVery Low23

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.