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Lee County, Virginia

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

Relatively Low overall risk
27th of 133highest risk in Virginia
$11Mexpected losses a year
18federal declarations
1 in 333homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Lee County, Virginia has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 57% of US counties. It ranks 27th of 133 counties in Virginia. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $11 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $515 per resident. Since 1976 it has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (12 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). Only 32 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $733,000 on 50 claims here.

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

Top risks in Lee County

$8.6 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.
$937,402 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.

Strong wind

Moderate
$396,125 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 5 times a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow72.8
$9M
Cold waveLow63.1
$937K
Strong windModerate57.4
$396K
TornadoLow34.9
$393K
EarthquakeLow60.4
$271K
WildfireLow80.6
$252K
HailLow48.4
$144K
DroughtLow57.8
$143K
LightningLow45.6
$117K
LandslideModerate94.1
$61K
Winter weatherModerate62.9
$59K
HurricaneVery Low41.3
$19K
Ice stormVery Low23.5
$13K
AvalancheLow71.2
$3K
Heat waveVery Low4.3
$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 very high and community resilience is very low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm6
Snowstorm4
Hurricane3
Flood2
Drought1
Tropical Storm1

Most recent

Jan 23, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
Apr 4, 2025Severe Winter Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 1, 2024Tropical Storm HeleneMajor disaster
Sep 11, 2018Hurricane FlorenceEmergency
Oct 29, 2012Hurricane SandyEmergency
Feb 16, 2010Severe Winter Storm and SnowstormMajor disaster
Sep 12, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jun 15, 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 27, 2003Severe Winter Storm, Record/Near Record Snowfall, Heavy Rain,Floodind, and MudslideMajor disaster
Apr 2, 2002Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 18
Jul 12, 2001Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 28, 2000Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Jan 13, 1996Blizzard of 96 (Severe Snow Storm)Major disaster
Mar 10, 1994Severe Ice Storms, FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 25, 1993Severe Winter StormEmergency
Nov 12, 1977Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 7, 1977Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 15, 1976DroughtEmergency

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

Storm history since 1968

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 254 storm reports in Lee County since 1968, with 0 deaths and 1 injury and about $2.8 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF1 tornado on March 2, 2012 near Caylor.

8tornadoes
62hail reports, largest 5 inches
163damaging thunderstorm winds
21floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Mar 2, 2012EF1Caylor1 / 0
Mar 2, 2012EF1Mc Connels0 / 0
May 26, 2004F1Jonesville0 / 0
May 16, 2023EF1Ben Hur0 / 0
May 16, 2023EF1Dot0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Mar 2, 2012TornadoCaylor$2M
Mar 2, 2012TornadoMc Connels$100K
Feb 16, 2003Flash FloodCountywide$50K
Aug 9, 2000Thunderstorm WindCountywide$37K
Jul 4, 2006Thunderstorm WindCountywide$30K
Aug 17, 2000Thunderstorm WindEwing$29K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 6, 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.

Flood insurance in Lee County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.3%of homes have federal flood insurance (32 policies)
5.1%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$733,164paid on 50 flood claims since 1978
2002costliest year, with $630,762 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 Lee County

$98,900median home value (Virginia $383,700, US $332,700)
1977median year homes were built (Virginia 1984, US 1980)
55%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
19.7%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; 10,851 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
Wise CountyLow17
Claiborne County, TNLow19
Harlan County, KYLow31
Bell County, KYLow27
Scott CountyVery Low18
Hancock County, TNVery Low17

Common questions about Lee County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Lee County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Lee County, about $8.6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $937,402.

How many federal disasters has Lee County had?

Lee County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1976, including 12 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is Lee County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 27th 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 Lee County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 333 homes in Lee 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 Lee County had?

NOAA records list 8 tornadoes in Lee County since 1950. The strongest was an EF1 tornado on March 2, 2012 near Caylor. The weather service has also logged 62 hail reports and 21 floods here.

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.