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Lexington City, Virginia

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

Very Low overall risk
126th of 133highest risk in Virginia
$2Mexpected losses a year
12federal declarations
1 in 200homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Lexington City, Virginia has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 96% of US counties. It ranks 126th of 133 counties in Virginia. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, earthquakes and lightning. FEMA estimates about $2.2 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $294 per resident. Since 1972 it has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (7 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). Only 10 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $253,000 on 34 claims here.

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

Top risks in Lexington City

$1.3 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.

Earthquake

Very Low
$183,770 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 990 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
$161,329 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 43 times a year.
  • Go indoors when you hear thunder.
  • Use surge protectors for electronics.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low13.1
$1M
EarthquakeVery Low46.2
$184K
LightningLow45.4
$161K
HurricaneVery Low58.0
$132K
Cold waveVery Low15.6
$130K
Strong windVery Low16.4
$115K
TornadoVery Low9.5
$47K
HailVery Low13.2
$35K
Winter weatherVery Low16.7
$11K
Heat waveVery Low5.2
$5K
Ice stormVery Low7.1
$3K
WildfireVery Low2.3
$701
LandslideVery Low18.1
$76

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 relatively high and community resilience is very high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

Federal declarations for natural events that included Lexington City. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Hurricane4
Flood3
Snowstorm2
Severe Storm2
Winter Storm1

Most recent

Jan 23, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
Sep 11, 2018Hurricane FlorenceEmergency
Oct 29, 2012Hurricane SandyEmergency
Jul 27, 2012Severe Storms and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Sep 12, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Sep 6, 1996Hurricane Fran and Associated Severe Storm CondMajor disaster
Jan 13, 1996Blizzard of 96 (Severe Snow Storm)Major disaster
Jul 1, 1995Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 25, 1993Severe Winter StormEmergency
May 19, 1992Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 12
Nov 9, 1985Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 23, 1972Tropical Storm AgnesMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1983

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 30 storm reports in Lexington City since 1983 and about $307,600 in reported damage. No tornadoes are on record here.

0tornadoes
5hail reports, largest 0.88 inches
16damaging thunderstorm winds
7floods and flash floods

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 29, 2012Thunderstorm WindLexington$250K
Jun 16, 1998Thunderstorm WindLexington$10K
Jan 25, 2010Flash FloodLexington$10K
Dec 1, 2010Flash FloodLexington$10K
Jun 2, 1999Thunderstorm WindLexington$5K
Aug 9, 2000Thunderstorm WindLexington$5K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 13, 2023. 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 1878, 1 hurricane and 9 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Lexington City, 5 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1896, with top winds near 75 mph about 62 miles away.

1hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
9tropical storms
2003most recent: Isabel

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 30, 1896UnnamedCategory 1, 75 mph62 mi
Aug 29, 1893UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph50 mi
Sep 19, 2003IsabelTropical storm, 65 mph63 mi
Aug 29, 1949UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph49 mi
Sep 13, 1878UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph62 mi
Aug 18, 1955DianeTropical storm, 55 mph58 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 19, 2003IsabelTropical storm, 65 mph63 mi
Sep 6, 1996FranTropical storm, 45 mph63 mi
Sep 5, 1979DavidTropical storm, 45 mph64 mi
Aug 18, 1955DianeTropical storm, 55 mph58 mi
Sep 1, 1952AbleTropical storm, 50 mph51 mi
Aug 29, 1949UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph49 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 Lexington City

Check your address flood zone ›
0.5%of homes have federal flood insurance (10 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$253,384paid on 34 flood claims since 1978
1996costliest year, with $111,410 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 Lexington City

$275,200median home value (Virginia $383,700, US $332,700)
1959median year homes were built (Virginia 1984, US 1980)
80%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
0%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; 2,808 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
Rockbridge CountyVery Low21

Common questions about Lexington City

What is the biggest natural hazard in Lexington City?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Lexington City, about $1.3 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Earthquake is second at $183,770.

How many federal disasters has Lexington City had?

Lexington City has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1972, including 7 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is Lexington City a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 126th 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 Lexington City?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 200 homes in Lexington City 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 Lexington City had?

NOAA records list 0 tornadoes in Lexington City since 1950. The weather service has also logged 5 hail reports and 7 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Lexington City?

NOAA's hurricane records show 1 hurricane and 9 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Lexington City. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1896, with winds near 75 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 city, not a single property, and are not insurance or safety advice. Report a problem.