Martinsville City, Virginia
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Martinsville City, Virginia has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 90% of US counties. It ranks 106th of 133 counties in Virginia. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, earthquakes and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $3.4 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $252 per resident. Since 1972 it has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (6 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). No 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 Martinsville City
- 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.
- Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
- Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
- Pick a shelter spot: a basement, or an inside room on the lowest floor with no windows.
- Turn on emergency alerts on your phone and keep a weather radio.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 23.1 | $2M | ||
| Earthquake | 60.7 | $341K | ||
| Tornado | 26.9 | $297K | ||
| Strong wind | 32.6 | $236K | ||
| Cold wave | 23.4 | $210K | ||
| Hurricane | 59.3 | $139K | ||
| Ice storm | 47.1 | $55K | ||
| Lightning | 17.7 | $44K | ||
| Hail | 17.0 | $43K | ||
| Heat wave | 17.8 | $36K | ||
| Winter weather | 19.9 | $13K | ||
| Wildfire | 0.6 | $186 | ||
| Landslide | 24.3 | $128 |
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 relatively high in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Martinsville City. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 11
Virginia also had 6 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1998
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 108 storm reports in Martinsville City since 1998, with 0 deaths and 2 injuries and about $3 million in reported damage. No tornadoes are on record here.
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 10, 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Martinsville | $2M |
| May 18, 2018 | Flash Flood | Martinsville | $800K |
| Jul 31, 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | Martinsville | $100K |
| Sep 17, 2018 | Flash Flood | Martinsville | $79K |
| Jun 29, 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | Martinsville | $75K |
| Jul 27, 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | Martinsville | $75K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 9, 2025. 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, 1 hurricane and 13 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Martinsville City, 5 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1896, with top winds near 80 mph about 50 miles away.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 30, 1896 | Unnamed | Category 1, 80 mph | 50 mi |
| Aug 28, 1893 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 70 mph | 59 mi |
| Sep 12, 1878 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 41 mi |
| Aug 28, 1949 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 45 mi |
| Aug 18, 1955 | Diane | Tropical storm, 55 mph | 64 mi |
| Sep 6, 1996 | Fran | Tropical storm, 55 mph | 63 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 11, 2018 | Michael | Tropical storm, 55 mph | 65 mi |
| Sep 6, 1996 | Fran | Tropical storm, 55 mph | 63 mi |
| Sep 5, 1979 | David | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 52 mi |
| Aug 18, 1955 | Diane | Tropical storm, 55 mph | 64 mi |
| Sep 1, 1952 | Able | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 57 mi |
| Aug 28, 1949 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 45 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 Martinsville City
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 Martinsville City
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; 7,035 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Henry County | 14 |
Common questions about Martinsville City
What is the biggest natural hazard in Martinsville City?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Martinsville City, about $2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Earthquake is second at $341,063.
How many federal disasters has Martinsville City had?
Martinsville City has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1972, including 6 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.
Is Martinsville City a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 106th 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 Martinsville City?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.
How many tornadoes has Martinsville City had?
NOAA records list 0 tornadoes in Martinsville City since 1950. The weather service has also logged 18 hail reports and 20 floods here.
How many hurricanes have hit Martinsville City?
NOAA's hurricane records show 1 hurricane and 13 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Martinsville City. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1896, with winds near 80 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.