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Poquoson City, Virginia

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

Very Low overall risk
131st of 133highest risk in Virginia
$4Mexpected losses a year
16federal declarations
1 in 2homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Poquoson 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 131st of 133 counties in Virginia. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, coastal flooding and hurricanes. FEMA estimates about $4.4 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $351 per resident. Since 1977 it has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (9 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). About 63% homes here carry federal flood insurance (2,936 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $73 million on 4,290 claims here, including $51 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 Poquoson City

$1.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 6 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.
$1.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 4 times a year.
  • Learn your evacuation zone; it is set by surge risk, not by distance from the beach.
  • Ask about flood insurance even outside a mapped high-risk zone.
$426,919 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 4 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 Low7.1
$2M
Coastal floodingModerate62.4
$1M
HurricaneLow60.5
$427K
TornadoVery Low13.0
$210K
Heat waveVery Low21.6
$138K
Cold waveVery Low8.6
$116K
Strong windVery Low6.0
$78K
EarthquakeVery Low23.9
$77K
LightningVery Low9.4
$61K
Ice stormVery Low18.3
$27K
HailVery Low5.2
$25K
WildfireVery Low17.4
$12K
Winter weatherVery Low2.6
$3K
LandslideVery Low0.2
$0

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 Poquoson City. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Hurricane9
Snowstorm2
Severe Storm2
Freezing1
Flood1
Winter Storm1

Most recent

Jan 23, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
Sep 11, 2018Hurricane FlorenceEmergency
Oct 29, 2012Hurricane SandyEmergency
Sep 3, 2011Hurricane IreneMajor disaster
Aug 26, 2011Hurricane IreneEmergency
Dec 9, 2009Severe Storms and Flooding Associated With Tropical Depression Ida and A Nor'EastMajor disaster
Sep 22, 2006Tropical Depression Ernesto, Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 12, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Sep 18, 2003Hurricane IsabelMajor disaster
Sep 18, 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster DeclarationsMajor disaster
Show all 16
Sep 16, 1999Hurricane Floyd Emergency DeclarationsEmergency
Sep 6, 1996Hurricane Fran and Associated Severe Storm CondMajor disaster
Jan 13, 1996Blizzard of 96 (Severe Snow Storm)Major disaster
Mar 25, 1993Severe Winter StormEmergency
Nov 9, 1985Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 26, 1977Ice ConditionsMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1999

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 12 storm reports in Poquoson City since 1999, with 0 deaths and 1 injury and about $39,000 in reported damage. No tornadoes are on record here.

0tornadoes
1hail reports, largest 0.75 inches
5damaging thunderstorm winds
5floods and flash floods

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Sep 15, 1999Flash FloodCountywide$35K
May 13, 2002Thunderstorm WindCentral Portion$2K
Aug 17, 2003Thunderstorm WindCountywide$2K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 14, 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 1851, 12 hurricanes and 40 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Poquoson City, 25 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1879, with top winds near 105 mph about 58 miles away.

12hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
40tropical storms
2021most recent: Elsa

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 18, 1879UnnamedCategory 2, 105 mph58 mi
Oct 23, 1878UnnamedCategory 2, 100 mph48 mi
Sep 12, 1960DonnaCategory 2, 100 mph62 mi
Aug 14, 1953BarbaraCategory 1, 90 mph63 mi
Aug 12, 1955ConnieCategory 1, 85 mph58 mi
Aug 23, 1933UnnamedCategory 1, 85 mph59 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Jul 9, 2021ElsaTropical storm, 55 mph52 mi
Aug 4, 2020IsaiasTropical storm, 70 mph56 mi
Aug 27, 2011IreneCategory 1, 75 mph61 mi
Sep 6, 2008HannaTropical storm, 50 mph48 mi
Aug 30, 2004GastonTropical storm, 40 mph17 mi
Sep 24, 2000HeleneTropical storm, 50 mph64 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 Poquoson City

Check your address flood zone ›
62.9%of homes have federal flood insurance (2,936 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$72.8 millionpaid on 4,290 flood claims since 1978
2003costliest year, with $50.9 million 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 Poquoson City

$400,300median home value (Virginia $383,700, US $332,700)
1977median year homes were built (Virginia 1984, US 1980)
57%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
1.2%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; 4,971 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
Hampton CityLow19
York CountyLow17
Northampton CountyLow20

Common questions about Poquoson City

What is the biggest natural hazard in Poquoson City?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Poquoson City, about $1.9 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Coastal flooding is second at $1.3 million.

How many federal disasters has Poquoson City had?

Poquoson City has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1977, including 9 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is Poquoson City a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 131st 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 Poquoson City?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 2 homes in Poquoson 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 Poquoson City had?

NOAA records list 0 tornadoes in Poquoson City since 1950. The weather service has also logged 1 hail reports and 5 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Poquoson City?

NOAA's hurricane records show 12 hurricanes and 40 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Poquoson City. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1879, with winds near 105 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.