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New Kent County, Virginia

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

Very Low overall risk
94th of 133highest risk in Virginia
$7Mexpected losses a year
20federal declarations
1 in 91homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

New Kent County, Virginia has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 86% of US counties. It ranks 94th of 133 counties in Virginia. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, drought and hurricanes. FEMA estimates about $7.3 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $319 per resident. Since 1977 it has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (13 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). About 1 in 91 homes here carry federal flood insurance (97 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $598,000 on 36 claims here.

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

Top risks in New Kent County

$3.4 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.

Drought

Moderate
$1.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 4 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
$551,056 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low22.5
$3M
DroughtModerate87.9
$2M
HurricaneLow66.9
$551K
TornadoVery Low24.9
$455K
Strong windLow24.4
$289K
Coastal floodingLow52.8
$218K
EarthquakeVery Low41.0
$204K
Heat waveVery Low32.9
$201K
LightningVery Low18.4
$79K
Ice stormLow31.9
$45K
HailVery Low10.1
$40K
Winter weatherVery Low23.4
$27K
Cold waveVery Low5.1
$21K
WildfireVery Low27.3
$15K
LandslideVery Low44.3
$1K

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 low 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 New Kent County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Hurricane10
Snowstorm3
Severe Storm3
Freezing1
Drought1
Severe Ice Storm1

Most recent

Jan 23, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
May 10, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Dec 18, 2018Tropical Storm MichaelMajor disaster
Sep 11, 2018Hurricane FlorenceEmergency
Nov 26, 2012Hurricane SandyMajor disaster
Oct 29, 2012Hurricane SandyEmergency
Jul 27, 2012Severe Storms and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Sep 3, 2011Hurricane IreneMajor disaster
Aug 26, 2011Hurricane IreneEmergency
Sep 12, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Show all 20
Sep 3, 2004Severe Storms, Flooding and Tornadoes Associated W Td GastonMajor disaster
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
Jan 26, 1977Ice ConditionsMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1981

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 190 storm reports in New Kent County since 1981, with 0 deaths and 1 injury and about $2.2 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF1 tornado on October 13, 2011 near Quinton Arpt.

6tornadoes
17hail reports, largest 1.75 inches
116damaging thunderstorm winds
24floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Oct 13, 2011EF1Quinton Arpt0 / 0
Aug 6, 1993F1Providence0 / 0
Oct 11, 2018EF0Lanexa0 / 0
Apr 20, 2008EF0Bottoms Bridge0 / 0
Aug 30, 2004F0New Kent0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Oct 13, 2011TornadoQuinton Arpt$1M
Sep 16, 1999Flash FloodCountywide$650K
Feb 24, 2016Thunderstorm WindNew Kent$107K
Jun 29, 2012Thunderstorm WindNew Kent$50K
Jun 19, 2014Thunderstorm WindTunstall$50K
Oct 11, 2018TornadoLanexa$50K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 22, 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 29 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of New Kent County, 14 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1878, with top winds near 100 mph about 49 miles away.

4hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
29tropical storms
2021most recent: Elsa

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 23, 1878UnnamedCategory 2, 100 mph49 mi
Aug 13, 1955ConnieCategory 1, 80 mph59 mi
Aug 23, 1933UnnamedCategory 1, 80 mph50 mi
Sep 17, 1876UnnamedCategory 1, 75 mph56 mi
Sep 19, 2003IsabelTropical storm, 70 mph60 mi
Aug 4, 2020IsaiasTropical storm, 70 mph51 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Jul 9, 2021ElsaTropical storm, 55 mph53 mi
Aug 4, 2020IsaiasTropical storm, 70 mph51 mi
Sep 6, 2008HannaTropical storm, 50 mph57 mi
Aug 30, 2004GastonTropical storm, 40 mph31 mi
Sep 19, 2003IsabelTropical storm, 70 mph60 mi
Jul 13, 1996BerthaTropical storm, 70 mph56 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 New Kent County

Check your address flood zone ›
1.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (97 policies)
50.6%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$597,544paid on 36 flood claims since 1978
2003costliest year, with $315,369 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 New Kent County

$393,600median home value (Virginia $383,700, US $332,700)
1997median year homes were built (Virginia 1984, US 1980)
28%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
3.7%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; 9,795 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
Henrico CountyModerate20
Hanover CountyLow20
James City CountyLow16
King William CountyVery Low22
Charles City CountyVery Low17
King and Queen CountyVery Low23

Common questions about New Kent County

What is the biggest natural hazard in New Kent County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in New Kent County, about $3.4 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Drought is second at $1.8 million.

How many federal disasters has New Kent County had?

New Kent County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1977, including 13 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is New Kent County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 94th 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 New Kent County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 91 homes in New Kent 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 New Kent County had?

NOAA records list 6 tornadoes in New Kent County since 1950. The strongest was an EF1 tornado on October 13, 2011 near Quinton Arpt. The weather service has also logged 17 hail reports and 24 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit New Kent County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 4 hurricanes and 29 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of New Kent 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.