Lee County, Virginia
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
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
- 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.
- Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
- Know how to shut off the main water valve.
- Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
- Have trees near the house checked.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 72.8 | $9M | ||
| Cold wave | 63.1 | $937K | ||
| Strong wind | 57.4 | $396K | ||
| Tornado | 34.9 | $393K | ||
| Earthquake | 60.4 | $271K | ||
| Wildfire | 80.6 | $252K | ||
| Hail | 48.4 | $144K | ||
| Drought | 57.8 | $143K | ||
| Lightning | 45.6 | $117K | ||
| Landslide | 94.1 | $61K | ||
| Winter weather | 62.9 | $59K | ||
| Hurricane | 41.3 | $19K | ||
| Ice storm | 23.5 | $13K | ||
| Avalanche | 71.2 | $3K | ||
| Heat wave | 4.3 | $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
Most recent
Show all 18
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.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2, 2012 | EF1 | Caylor | 1 / 0 |
| Mar 2, 2012 | EF1 | Mc Connels | 0 / 0 |
| May 26, 2004 | F1 | Jonesville | 0 / 0 |
| May 16, 2023 | EF1 | Ben Hur | 0 / 0 |
| May 16, 2023 | EF1 | Dot | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2, 2012 | Tornado | Caylor | $2M |
| Mar 2, 2012 | Tornado | Mc Connels | $100K |
| Feb 16, 2003 | Flash Flood | Countywide | $50K |
| Aug 9, 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | Countywide | $37K |
| Jul 4, 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | Countywide | $30K |
| Aug 17, 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | Ewing | $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 ›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
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 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Wise County | 17 | |
| Claiborne County, TN | 19 | |
| Harlan County, KY | 31 | |
| Bell County, KY | 27 | |
| Scott County | 18 | |
| Hancock County, TN | 17 |
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.