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Mecklenburg County, Virginia

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

Relatively Low overall risk
28th of 133highest risk in Virginia
$13Mexpected losses a year
18federal declarations
1 in 333homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Mecklenburg County, Virginia has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 54% of US counties. It ranks 28th of 133 counties in Virginia. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, hurricanes and drought. FEMA estimates about $13 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $431 per resident. Since 1972 it has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (11 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). Only 42 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 Mecklenburg County

$5.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • 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.

Hurricane

Moderate
$2.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 7 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.
$2.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 10 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow56.6
$6M
HurricaneModerate85.3
$3M
DroughtHigh96.1
$2M
TornadoLow33.8
$458K
EarthquakeLow65.0
$435K
Cold waveLow33.0
$349K
Heat waveLow51.6
$292K
Strong windLow26.6
$182K
HailLow45.1
$156K
LightningLow40.9
$119K
Winter weatherLow58.6
$62K
Ice stormLow49.4
$59K
WildfireVery Low24.3
$7K
LandslideVery Low39.5
$455

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 low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Hurricane8
Snowstorm3
Drought2
Severe Storm2
Flood1
Severe Ice Storm1

Most recent

Jan 23, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
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 13, 2006Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 12, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Sep 18, 2003Hurricane IsabelMajor disaster
Feb 28, 2000Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Show all 18
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 1960

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 362 storm reports in Mecklenburg County since 1960, with 1 death and 3 injuries and about $3.9 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on August 29, 1988.

11tornadoes
50hail reports, largest 3 inches
214damaging thunderstorm winds
45floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Aug 29, 1988F2–1 / 0
Feb 24, 2016EF1Redlawn0 / 0
May 5, 2017EF1Blanks0 / 0
Oct 31, 2019EF1White House0 / 0
Jan 26, 1978F1–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Aug 29, 1988Tornado–$3M
Feb 24, 2016TornadoRedlawn$310K
May 5, 2017TornadoBlanks$200K
Sep 16, 1999Flash FloodCountywide$153K
Jun 29, 2012Thunderstorm WindChase City$90K
Aug 26, 1993Thunderstorm Wind–$50K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 18, 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 24 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Mecklenburg County, 9 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1893, with top winds near 85 mph about 32 miles away.

4hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
24tropical storms
2023most recent: Ophelia

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 13, 1893UnnamedCategory 1, 85 mph32 mi
Sep 18, 2003IsabelCategory 1, 80 mph52 mi
Sep 30, 1896UnnamedCategory 1, 80 mph47 mi
Sep 17, 1876UnnamedCategory 1, 80 mph63 mi
Aug 4, 2020IsaiasTropical storm, 70 mph56 mi
Aug 29, 1893UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph61 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 23, 2023OpheliaTropical storm, 45 mph55 mi
Jul 8, 2021ElsaTropical storm, 50 mph52 mi
Aug 4, 2020IsaiasTropical storm, 70 mph56 mi
Sep 6, 2008HannaTropical storm, 50 mph52 mi
Sep 18, 2003IsabelCategory 1, 80 mph52 mi
Sep 6, 1996FranTropical storm, 60 mph58 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 Mecklenburg County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.3%of homes have federal flood insurance (42 policies)
6%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$72,397paid on 8 flood claims since 1978
1985costliest year, with $60,629 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 Mecklenburg County

$192,600median home value (Virginia $383,700, US $332,700)
1983median year homes were built (Virginia 1984, US 1980)
46%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
20%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; 19,315 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
Granville County, NCLow24
Vance County, NCLow21
Halifax CountyLow22
Warren County, NCLow22
Brunswick CountyVery Low17
Lunenburg CountyVery Low21
Charlotte CountyVery Low20

Common questions about Mecklenburg County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Mecklenburg County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Mecklenburg County, about $5.8 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Hurricane is second at $2.8 million.

How many federal disasters has Mecklenburg County had?

Mecklenburg County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1972, including 11 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is Mecklenburg County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 28th 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 Mecklenburg County?

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

NOAA records list 11 tornadoes in Mecklenburg County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on August 29, 1988. The weather service has also logged 50 hail reports and 45 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Mecklenburg County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 4 hurricanes and 24 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Mecklenburg 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.