Radford City, Virginia
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Radford City, Virginia has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 97% of US counties. It ranks 128th of 133 counties in Virginia. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and earthquakes. FEMA estimates about $2.6 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $159 per resident. Since 1972 it has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (9 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). Only 11 homes here carry federal flood insurance.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Radford City
- 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.
- Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
- Know how to shut off the main water valve.
- Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
- Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 11.4 | $2M | ||
| Cold wave | 26.7 | $389K | ||
| Earthquake | 44.8 | $221K | ||
| Strong wind | 19.0 | $182K | ||
| Tornado | 8.1 | $50K | ||
| Lightning | 12.9 | $49K | ||
| Hail | 9.1 | $30K | ||
| Winter weather | 22.2 | $22K | ||
| Hurricane | 28.5 | $14K | ||
| Ice storm | 8.0 | $4K | ||
| Wildfire | 2.7 | $1K | ||
| Landslide | 33.9 | $451 |
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 relatively low 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 Radford City. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 15
Virginia also had 6 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1998
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 52 storm reports in Radford City since 1998 and about $905,000 in reported damage. No tornadoes are on record here.
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 31, 2013 | Flood | Radford | $750K |
| Aug 12, 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | Radford | $70K |
| Aug 30, 2018 | Flash Flood | Radford | $50K |
| Oct 23, 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | Radford | $10K |
| Jul 26, 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | Radford | $8K |
| Jun 11, 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Radford | $5K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 30, 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 1878, 0 hurricanes and 6 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Radford City, 2 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1893, with top winds near 70 mph about 59 miles away.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 28, 1893 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 70 mph | 59 mi |
| Aug 28, 1949 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 50 mi |
| Sep 12, 1878 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 60 mi |
| Sep 1, 1952 | Able | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 60 mi |
| Sep 5, 1979 | David | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 57 mi |
| Aug 3, 1915 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 59 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 5, 1979 | David | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 57 mi |
| Sep 1, 1952 | Able | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 60 mi |
| Aug 28, 1949 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 50 mi |
| Aug 3, 1915 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 59 mi |
| Aug 28, 1893 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 70 mph | 59 mi |
| Sep 12, 1878 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 60 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 Radford City
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 Radford City
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; 6,459 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Montgomery County | 22 | |
| Pulaski County | 20 |
Common questions about Radford City
What is the biggest natural hazard in Radford City?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Radford City, about $1.6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $388,671.
How many federal disasters has Radford City had?
Radford City has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1972, including 9 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.
Is Radford City a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 128th 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 Radford City?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 250 homes in Radford 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 Radford City had?
NOAA records list 0 tornadoes in Radford City since 1950. The weather service has also logged 15 hail reports and 11 floods here.
How many hurricanes have hit Radford City?
NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 6 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Radford City. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1893, with winds near 70 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.