Home › Virginia › Lunenburg County

Lunenburg County, Virginia

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

Very Low overall risk
77th of 133highest risk in Virginia
$4Mexpected losses a year
21federal declarations
1 in 1000homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Lunenburg County, Virginia has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 80% of US counties. It ranks 77th of 133 counties in Virginia. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, drought and hurricanes. FEMA estimates about $4.1 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $346 per resident. Since 1972 it has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (14 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). Only 3 homes here carry federal flood insurance.

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

Top risks in Lunenburg County

$1.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 3 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.
$1.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 8 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
$693,883 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 8 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 Low17.1
$1M
DroughtHigh92.2
$1M
HurricaneLow76.5
$694K
Strong windModerate59.1
$408K
EarthquakeVery Low52.8
$182K
TornadoVery Low22.9
$175K
Cold waveVery Low20.6
$136K
Heat waveVery Low34.4
$98K
LightningVery Low23.1
$45K
HailVery Low20.7
$42K
Ice stormLow33.0
$22K
Winter weatherLow34.8
$21K
WildfireVery Low15.4
$3K
LandslideVery Low27.3
$137

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 Lunenburg County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Hurricane9
Severe Storm4
Snowstorm3
Drought2
Flood1
Severe Ice Storm1

Most recent

Jan 23, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
Apr 4, 2025Severe Winter Storms and FloodingMajor 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
Jul 27, 2012Severe Storms and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Sep 3, 2011Hurricane IreneMajor disaster
Sep 22, 2006Tropical Depression Ernesto, Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 21
Sep 12, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
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
Oct 15, 1976DroughtEmergency
Oct 10, 1972Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1957

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 204 storm reports in Lunenburg County since 1957, with 1 death and 0 injuries and about $6.4 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on August 6, 1993 near Kenbridge.

5tornadoes
28hail reports, largest 2 inches
124damaging thunderstorm winds
22floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Aug 6, 1993F2Kenbridge0 / 0
Apr 16, 2011EF1Kells Corner0 / 0
May 27, 1957F1–0 / 0
Sep 23, 2003F0Victoria0 / 0
May 5, 2017EF0Bagleys Mills0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Aug 6, 1993TornadoKenbridge$5M
Jun 29, 2012Thunderstorm WindLunenburg$245K
Jun 29, 2012Thunderstorm WindKenbridge$245K
May 5, 1996Thunderstorm WindVictoria$200K
May 22, 2000Thunderstorm WindCountywide$200K
Apr 16, 2011TornadoKells Corner$100K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 27, 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, 4 hurricanes and 23 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Lunenburg County, 10 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1893, with top winds near 85 mph about 50 miles away.

4hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
23tropical storms
2023most recent: Ophelia

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 13, 1893UnnamedCategory 1, 85 mph50 mi
Sep 18, 2003IsabelCategory 1, 80 mph55 mi
Sep 30, 1896UnnamedCategory 1, 80 mph63 mi
Sep 17, 1876UnnamedCategory 1, 75 mph54 mi
Aug 4, 2020IsaiasTropical storm, 70 mph60 mi
Aug 29, 1893UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph63 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 23, 2023OpheliaTropical storm, 45 mph61 mi
Jul 9, 2021ElsaTropical storm, 55 mph64 mi
Aug 4, 2020IsaiasTropical storm, 70 mph60 mi
Sep 6, 2008HannaTropical storm, 50 mph51 mi
Aug 30, 2004GastonTropical storm, 35 mph58 mi
Sep 18, 2003IsabelCategory 1, 80 mph55 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 Lunenburg County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (3 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$0paid on 0 flood claims since 1978
n/acostliest year

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 Lunenburg County

$150,100median home value (Virginia $383,700, US $332,700)
1972median year homes were built (Virginia 1984, US 1980)
62%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
19.3%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; 5,908 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
Mecklenburg CountyLow18
Prince Edward CountyVery Low20
Brunswick CountyVery Low17
Nottoway CountyVery Low20
Charlotte CountyVery Low20

Common questions about Lunenburg County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Lunenburg County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Lunenburg County, about $1.2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Drought is second at $1.1 million.

How many federal disasters has Lunenburg County had?

Lunenburg County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1972, including 14 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is Lunenburg County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 77th 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 Lunenburg County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 1000 homes in Lunenburg 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 Lunenburg County had?

NOAA records list 5 tornadoes in Lunenburg County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on August 6, 1993 near Kenbridge. The weather service has also logged 28 hail reports and 22 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Lunenburg County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 4 hurricanes and 23 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Lunenburg County. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1893, with winds near 85 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.