Middlesex County, Virginia
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Middlesex County, Virginia has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 76% of US counties. It ranks 71st of 133 counties in Virginia. The costliest hazards here are hurricanes, inland flooding and drought. FEMA estimates about $5.9 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $559 per resident. Since 1972 it has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (14 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). About 1 in 25 homes here carry federal flood insurance (291 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $3.2 million on 234 claims here, including $1.7 million for floods in 2003.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Middlesex County
- 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.
- 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.
- Check local water restrictions.
- Choose drought-tolerant plants.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hurricane | 85.5 | $3M | ||
| Inland flooding | 11.3 | $1M | ||
| Drought | 78.2 | $606K | ||
| Coastal flooding | 58.0 | $287K | ||
| Strong wind | 37.4 | $276K | ||
| Tornado | 23.2 | $228K | ||
| Cold wave | 20.1 | $163K | ||
| Earthquake | 36.9 | $91K | ||
| Heat wave | 28.3 | $89K | ||
| Ice storm | 44.3 | $48K | ||
| Hail | 15.4 | $38K | ||
| Lightning | 15.3 | $38K | ||
| Wildfire | 31.4 | $11K | ||
| Winter weather | 11.1 | $6K | ||
| Landslide | 27.7 | $185 |
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 Middlesex County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 22
Virginia also had 6 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1976
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 172 storm reports in Middlesex County since 1976, with 0 deaths and 5 injuries and about $7.6 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on August 6, 1993 near Urbanna.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 6, 1993 | F3 | Urbanna | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 16, 2011 | EF2 | Ruark | 0 / 0 |
| May 11, 1981 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Feb 24, 2016 | EF1 | Warner | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 16, 2011 | EF1 | Samos | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 16, 2011 | Tornado | Ruark | $6M |
| Feb 24, 2016 | Tornado | Warner | $677K |
| Jul 18, 1996 | Lightning | Deltaville | $200K |
| May 22, 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | Saluda Hummel Arpt | $200K |
| Apr 16, 2011 | Tornado | Samos | $100K |
| Aug 6, 1993 | Tornado | Urbanna | $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 1856, 6 hurricanes and 30 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Middlesex County, 15 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1878, with top winds near 100 mph about 63 miles away.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 23, 1878 | Unnamed | Category 2, 100 mph | 63 mi |
| Aug 13, 1955 | Connie | Category 1, 80 mph | 62 mi |
| Aug 23, 1933 | Unnamed | Category 1, 80 mph | 61 mi |
| Sep 16, 1999 | Floyd | Category 1, 75 mph | 59 mi |
| Oct 10, 1894 | Unnamed | Category 1, 75 mph | 58 mi |
| Sep 17, 1876 | Unnamed | Category 1, 75 mph | 55 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 9, 2021 | Elsa | Tropical storm, 55 mph | 53 mi |
| Aug 4, 2020 | Isaias | Tropical storm, 70 mph | 36 mi |
| Sep 6, 2008 | Hanna | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 50 mi |
| Aug 30, 2004 | Gaston | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 28 mi |
| Sep 16, 1999 | Floyd | Category 1, 75 mph | 59 mi |
| Jul 13, 1996 | Bertha | Tropical storm, 70 mph | 48 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 Middlesex 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 Middlesex 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; 7,153 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Gloucester County | 16 | |
| Accomack County | 18 | |
| Northampton County | 20 | |
| Lancaster County | 23 | |
| Essex County | 25 | |
| Richmond County | 22 | |
| Mathews County | 18 | |
| King and Queen County | 23 |
Common questions about Middlesex County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Middlesex County?
Hurricane has the highest expected yearly losses in Middlesex County, about $3 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $1.1 million.
How many federal disasters has Middlesex County had?
Middlesex County has been included in 22 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 Middlesex County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 71st 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 Middlesex County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 25 homes in Middlesex 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 Middlesex County had?
NOAA records list 11 tornadoes in Middlesex County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on August 6, 1993 near Urbanna. The weather service has also logged 18 hail reports and 10 floods here.
How many hurricanes have hit Middlesex County?
NOAA's hurricane records show 6 hurricanes and 30 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Middlesex County. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1878, with winds near 100 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.