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Rockingham County, Virginia

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

Relatively Low overall risk
11th of 133highest risk in Virginia
$35Mexpected losses a year
19federal declarations
1 in 143homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Rockingham County, Virginia has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 75% of US counties. It ranks 11th of 133 counties in Virginia. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, hurricanes and drought. FEMA estimates about $35 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $417 per resident. Since 1972 it has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (11 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (272 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $4.5 million on 282 claims here, including $3.0 million for floods in 1996.

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

Top risks in Rockingham County

$25.7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times a year.
  • 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.

Hurricane

Moderate
$2.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 20 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.

Drought

Moderate
$1.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 4 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingModerate84.6
$26M
HurricaneModerate82.5
$3M
DroughtModerate82.2
$1M
Strong windModerate72.1
$1M
Heat waveLow72.3
$1M
Cold waveLow41.3
$708K
EarthquakeLow67.0
$691K
LightningModerate77.7
$669K
TornadoLow29.1
$498K
HailLow58.4
$367K
WildfireLow64.4
$119K
Winter weatherModerate62.7
$101K
LandslideLow86.7
$38K
Ice stormLow32.0
$37K
AvalancheVery Low64.9
$3K

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 Rockingham County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood5
Hurricane5
Severe Storm3
Drought2
Snowstorm2
Fire1

Most recent

Jan 23, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
Apr 4, 2025Severe Winter Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 11, 2018Hurricane FlorenceEmergency
Oct 29, 2012Hurricane SandyEmergency
Jul 27, 2012Severe Storms and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Feb 20, 2011Coffman FireFire management
Sep 12, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Sep 18, 2003Hurricane IsabelMajor disaster
Feb 28, 2000Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Sep 6, 1996Hurricane Fran and Associated Severe Storm CondMajor disaster
Show all 19
Jan 27, 1996Flooding, High Winds, and Wind Driven RainMajor disaster
Jan 13, 1996Blizzard of 96 (Severe Snow Storm)Major disaster
Mar 25, 1993Severe Winter StormEmergency
May 19, 1992Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Nov 9, 1985Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 23, 1977DroughtEmergency
Oct 15, 1976DroughtEmergency
Oct 10, 1972Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 23, 1972Tropical Storm AgnesMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1952

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 540 storm reports in Rockingham County since 1952, with 1 death and 3 injuries and about $19.8 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on April 5, 1952.

12tornadoes
72hail reports, largest 2.5 inches
291damaging thunderstorm winds
133floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 5, 1952F2–0 / 0
Apr 28, 2011EF2Genoa0 / 0
Aug 6, 1960F2–0 / 0
Jul 21, 2026EF1Criders0 / 0
Apr 28, 2011EF1Pleasant Vly0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jan 19, 1996Flash FloodAll$7M
Sep 6, 1996Flash FloodCountywide$7M
Sep 18, 2003Flash FloodCountywide$1M
Jul 21, 2026TornadoCriders$1M
Jul 21, 2026TornadoMechanicsville$1M
Jun 22, 2001Flash FloodNorth Portion$500K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 21, 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 1893, 1 hurricane and 7 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Rockingham County, 4 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1893, with top winds near 80 mph about 48 miles away.

1hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
7tropical storms
2003most recent: Isabel

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 13, 1893UnnamedCategory 1, 80 mph48 mi
Aug 29, 1893UnnamedTropical storm, 65 mph63 mi
Sep 19, 2003IsabelTropical storm, 65 mph43 mi
Aug 29, 1949UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph45 mi
Sep 1, 1952AbleTropical storm, 55 mph59 mi
Aug 18, 1955DianeTropical storm, 55 mph64 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 19, 2003IsabelTropical storm, 65 mph43 mi
Sep 6, 1979DavidTropical storm, 45 mph51 mi
Aug 18, 1955DianeTropical storm, 55 mph64 mi
Sep 1, 1952AbleTropical storm, 55 mph59 mi
Aug 29, 1949UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph45 mi
Aug 4, 1915UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph48 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 Rockingham County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.7%of homes have federal flood insurance (272 policies)
14.5%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$4.5 millionpaid on 282 flood claims since 1978
1996costliest year, with $3 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 Rockingham County

$313,000median home value (Virginia $383,700, US $332,700)
1986median year homes were built (Virginia 1984, US 1980)
42%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
8.3%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; 36,550 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
Albemarle CountyLow23
Augusta CountyLow22
Harrisonburg CityVery Low12
Shenandoah CountyLow22
Page CountyVery Low22
Greene CountyVery Low24
Hardy County, WVVery Low20
Pendleton County, WVVery Low22

Common questions about Rockingham County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Rockingham County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Rockingham County, about $25.7 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Hurricane is second at $2.8 million.

How many federal disasters has Rockingham County had?

Rockingham County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1972, including 11 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is Rockingham County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 11th 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 Rockingham County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 143 homes in Rockingham 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 Rockingham County had?

NOAA records list 12 tornadoes in Rockingham County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on April 5, 1952. The weather service has also logged 72 hail reports and 133 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Rockingham County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 1 hurricane and 7 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Rockingham County. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1893, with winds near 80 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.