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Norton City, Virginia

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

Very Low overall risk
133rd of 133highest risk in Virginia
$1Mexpected losses a year
13federal declarations
1 in 53homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Norton City, Virginia has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 98% of US counties. It ranks 133rd of 133 counties in Virginia. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and earthquakes. FEMA estimates about $1.1 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $310 per resident. Since 1977 it has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (7 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). Only 23 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $303,000 on 46 claims here.

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

Top risks in Norton City

$705,659 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.
$217,107 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.

Earthquake

Very Low
$63,069 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 645 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low7.3
$706K
Cold waveLow24.5
$217K
EarthquakeVery Low31.8
$63K
Strong windVery Low11.8
$62K
TornadoVery Low10.8
$53K
Winter weatherVery Low16.6
$10K
HailVery Low5.0
$8K
HurricaneVery Low27.5
$8K
WildfireVery Low23.6
$7K
LightningVery Low2.7
$6K
LandslideVery Low49.8
$916
Ice stormVery Low2.8
$806

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 moderate in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

Federal declarations for natural events that included Norton City. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Snowstorm3
Severe Storm3
Hurricane3
Tropical Storm2
Flood1
Winter Storm1

Most recent

Jan 23, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
Oct 1, 2024Tropical Storm HeleneMajor disaster
Sep 29, 2024Post-Tropical Cyclone HeleneEmergency
Sep 11, 2018Hurricane FlorenceEmergency
Oct 29, 2012Hurricane SandyEmergency
Feb 16, 2010Severe Winter Storm and SnowstormMajor disaster
Sep 12, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Mar 27, 2003Severe Winter Storm, Record/Near Record Snowfall, Heavy Rain,Floodind, and MudslideMajor disaster
Apr 2, 2002Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 28, 2000Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Show all 13
Jan 13, 1996Blizzard of 96 (Severe Snow Storm)Major disaster
Mar 25, 1993Severe Winter StormEmergency
Apr 7, 1977Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1982

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 39 storm reports in Norton City since 1982 and about $567,000 in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF0 tornado on April 9, 2011 near Norton.

1tornadoes
6hail reports, largest 0.88 inches
23damaging thunderstorm winds
9floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 9, 2011EF0Norton0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Feb 16, 2003Flash FloodNorton$315K
Apr 9, 2011TornadoNorton$50K
Mar 5, 2015FloodNorton$30K
May 26, 2004Thunderstorm WindNorton$20K
Aug 2, 2002Thunderstorm WindNorton$15K
Nov 10, 2002Thunderstorm WindNorton$15K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through May 20, 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 1959, 0 hurricanes and 2 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Norton City, 2 of them since 1950. The strongest was Tropical Storm Hugo (1989), with top winds near 60 mph about 51 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
2tropical storms
1989most recent: Hugo

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 22, 1989HugoTropical storm, 60 mph51 mi
Sep 30, 1959GracieTropical storm, 40 mph60 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 22, 1989HugoTropical storm, 60 mph51 mi
Sep 30, 1959GracieTropical storm, 40 mph60 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 Norton City

Check your address flood zone ›
1.9%of homes have federal flood insurance (23 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$303,227paid on 46 flood claims since 1978
2003costliest year, with $89,218 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 Norton City

$110,000median home value (Virginia $383,700, US $332,700)
1973median year homes were built (Virginia 1984, US 1980)
67%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
13.3%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; 1,764 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
Wise CountyLow17

Common questions about Norton City

What is the biggest natural hazard in Norton City?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Norton City, about $705,659 a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $217,107.

How many federal disasters has Norton City had?

Norton City has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1977, including 7 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is Norton City a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 133rd 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 Norton City?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 53 homes in Norton City 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 Norton City had?

NOAA records list 1 tornadoes in Norton City since 1950. The strongest was an EF0 tornado on April 9, 2011 near Norton. The weather service has also logged 6 hail reports and 9 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Norton City?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 2 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Norton City. The strongest was Tropical Storm Hugo (1989), with winds near 60 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.