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Prince Edward County, Virginia

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

Very Low overall risk
59th of 133highest risk in Virginia
$7Mexpected losses a year
20federal declarations
1 in 500homes with flood insurance
Photo: Aleatoric Consonance, CC BY 2.0

Prince Edward County, Virginia has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 68% of US counties. It ranks 59th of 133 counties in Virginia. The costliest hazards here are drought, inland flooding and hurricanes. FEMA estimates about $7.1 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $332 per resident. Since 1972 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). Only 13 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $461,000 on 40 claims here.

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

Top risks in Prince Edward County

$2.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 9 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
$2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 3 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.
$816,689 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 10 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
DroughtHigh97.6
$3M
Inland floodingVery Low25.3
$2M
HurricaneLow76.5
$817K
EarthquakeLow65.2
$415K
TornadoLow26.6
$274K
Cold waveLow26.4
$239K
Strong windLow29.7
$196K
Heat waveVery Low36.0
$127K
LightningLow38.4
$102K
HailVery Low22.1
$54K
Winter weatherLow33.5
$24K
Ice stormLow30.0
$22K
WildfireVery Low12.8
$3K
LandslideVery Low42.4
$534

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 Prince Edward County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm6
Hurricane6
Snowstorm3
Drought2
Flood1
Severe Ice Storm1

Most recent

Jan 23, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
Apr 4, 2025Severe Winter Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 11, 2022Severe Winter Storm and SnowstormMajor disaster
May 10, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Dec 18, 2018Tropical Storm MichaelMajor disaster
Sep 11, 2018Hurricane FlorenceEmergency
Oct 29, 2012Hurricane SandyEmergency
Jul 27, 2012Severe Storms and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Sep 12, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Sep 18, 2003Hurricane IsabelMajor disaster
Show all 20
May 5, 2002Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 28, 2000Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Sep 6, 1996Hurricane Fran and Associated Severe Storm CondMajor disaster
Jan 13, 1996Blizzard of 96 (Severe Snow Storm)Major disaster
Apr 11, 1994Severe Winter Ice StormMajor disaster
Mar 10, 1994Severe Ice Storms, FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 25, 1993Severe Winter StormEmergency
Jul 23, 1977DroughtEmergency
Oct 15, 1976DroughtEmergency
Jun 23, 1972Tropical Storm AgnesMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1957

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 287 storm reports in Prince Edward County since 1957, with 0 deaths and 2 injuries and about $922,500 in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F1 tornado on October 13, 1983.

2tornadoes
38hail reports, largest 2 inches
193damaging thunderstorm winds
26floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Oct 13, 1983F1–0 / 0
Apr 27, 2011EF1Rice0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Oct 13, 1983Tornado–$250K
Jun 29, 2012Thunderstorm WindFarmville$140K
May 5, 1996Thunderstorm WindFarmville$100K
Jun 6, 2025Thunderstorm WindRice$50K
Jun 13, 2015Thunderstorm WindFarmville Muni Arpt$20K
Aug 15, 2016LightningFarmville Muni Arpt$20K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 26, 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 17 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Prince Edward County, 6 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1893, with top winds near 85 mph about 26 miles away.

4hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
17tropical storms
2021most recent: Elsa

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 13, 1893UnnamedCategory 1, 85 mph26 mi
Sep 30, 1896UnnamedCategory 1, 75 mph34 mi
Sep 18, 2003IsabelCategory 1, 75 mph54 mi
Sep 17, 1876UnnamedCategory 1, 75 mph63 mi
Aug 29, 1893UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph53 mi
Oct 31, 1899UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph52 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Jul 8, 2021ElsaTropical storm, 50 mph61 mi
Sep 18, 2003IsabelCategory 1, 75 mph54 mi
Sep 6, 1996FranTropical storm, 50 mph61 mi
Sep 5, 1979DavidTropical storm, 45 mph65 mi
Aug 17, 1955DianeTropical storm, 60 mph52 mi
Sep 1, 1952AbleTropical storm, 50 mph61 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 Prince Edward County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (13 policies)
18.2%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$460,578paid on 40 flood claims since 1978
1996costliest year, with $209,158 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 Prince Edward County

$216,600median home value (Virginia $383,700, US $332,700)
1980median year homes were built (Virginia 1984, US 1980)
50%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
13.8%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; 9,209 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
Buckingham CountyVery Low21
Appomattox CountyVery Low24
Nottoway CountyVery Low20
Amelia CountyVery Low20
Lunenburg CountyVery Low21
Charlotte CountyVery Low20
Cumberland CountyVery Low21

Common questions about Prince Edward County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Prince Edward County?

Drought has the highest expected yearly losses in Prince Edward County, about $2.8 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $2 million.

How many federal disasters has Prince Edward County had?

Prince Edward County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1972, including 13 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is Prince Edward County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 59th 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 Prince Edward County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 500 homes in Prince Edward 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 Prince Edward County had?

NOAA records list 2 tornadoes in Prince Edward County since 1950. The strongest was an F1 tornado on October 13, 1983. The weather service has also logged 38 hail reports and 26 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Prince Edward County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 4 hurricanes and 17 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Prince Edward 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.