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Waynesboro City, Virginia

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

Very Low overall risk
104th of 133highest risk in Virginia
$6Mexpected losses a year
13federal declarations
1 in 91homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Waynesboro City, Virginia has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 90% of US counties. It ranks 104th of 133 counties in Virginia. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, strong wind and earthquakes. FEMA estimates about $6.2 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $278 per resident. Since 1972 it has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (8 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). About 1 in 91 homes here carry federal flood insurance (85 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $6.0 million on 367 claims here, including $3.1 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 Waynesboro City

$4.5 million 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.
$346,591 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 3 times a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.

Earthquake

Very Low
$314,531 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 655 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 Low31.1
$5M
Strong windLow28.5
$347K
EarthquakeVery Low48.3
$315K
HurricaneLow61.4
$296K
TornadoVery Low16.4
$209K
LightningLow29.5
$133K
Cold waveVery Low10.9
$109K
Heat waveVery Low22.4
$94K
HailVery Low19.2
$86K
Winter weatherLow25.4
$30K
Ice stormVery Low16.0
$13K
WildfireVery Low2.6
$1K
LandslideVery Low19.6
$139

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 Waynesboro City. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Hurricane5
Snowstorm4
Flood3
Winter Storm1

Most recent

Jan 23, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
Sep 11, 2018Hurricane FlorenceEmergency
Oct 29, 2012Hurricane SandyEmergency
Apr 27, 2010Severe Winter Storms and SnowstormsMajor disaster
Feb 16, 2010Severe Winter Storm and SnowstormMajor disaster
Sep 12, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Sep 18, 2003Hurricane IsabelMajor disaster
Sep 6, 1996Hurricane Fran and Associated Severe Storm CondMajor disaster
Jan 27, 1996Flooding, High Winds, and Wind Driven RainMajor disaster
Jan 13, 1996Blizzard of 96 (Severe Snow Storm)Major disaster
Show all 13
Mar 25, 1993Severe Winter StormEmergency
Nov 9, 1985Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 23, 1972Tropical Storm AgnesMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1980

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 53 storm reports in Waynesboro City since 1980, with 3 deaths and 0 injuries and about $341,000 in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF1 tornado on April 26, 2022 near Waynesboro.

1tornadoes
6hail reports, largest 2 inches
23damaging thunderstorm winds
17floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 26, 2022EF1Waynesboro0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 26, 2022TornadoWaynesboro$200K
Jun 29, 2012Thunderstorm WindWaynesboro$50K
Aug 29, 2001Thunderstorm WindWaynesboro$20K
Apr 26, 2022Thunderstorm WindWaynesboro$10K
Jun 19, 2025Thunderstorm WindWaynesboro$10K
Jul 16, 2024Thunderstorm WindWaynesboro$6K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 4, 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 Waynesboro City, 4 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1893, with top winds near 80 mph about 54 miles away.

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

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 13, 1893UnnamedCategory 1, 80 mph54 mi
Sep 19, 2003IsabelTropical storm, 65 mph44 mi
Aug 29, 1893UnnamedTropical storm, 65 mph52 mi
Aug 29, 1949UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph48 mi
Aug 18, 1955DianeTropical storm, 55 mph64 mi
Sep 1, 1952AbleTropical storm, 55 mph55 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 19, 2003IsabelTropical storm, 65 mph44 mi
Sep 5, 1979DavidTropical storm, 45 mph62 mi
Aug 18, 1955DianeTropical storm, 55 mph64 mi
Sep 1, 1952AbleTropical storm, 55 mph55 mi
Aug 29, 1949UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph48 mi
Aug 4, 1915UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph57 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 Waynesboro City

Check your address flood zone ›
1.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (85 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$6 millionpaid on 367 flood claims since 1978
1996costliest year, with $3.1 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 Waynesboro City

$245,500median home value (Virginia $383,700, US $332,700)
1969median year homes were built (Virginia 1984, US 1980)
62%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
0.4%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; 10,510 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
Augusta CountyLow22

Common questions about Waynesboro City

What is the biggest natural hazard in Waynesboro City?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Waynesboro City, about $4.5 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Strong wind is second at $346,591.

How many federal disasters has Waynesboro City had?

Waynesboro City has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1972, including 8 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is Waynesboro City a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 104th 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 Waynesboro City?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 91 homes in Waynesboro 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 Waynesboro City had?

NOAA records list 1 tornadoes in Waynesboro City since 1950. The strongest was an EF1 tornado on April 26, 2022 near Waynesboro. The weather service has also logged 6 hail reports and 17 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Waynesboro City?

NOAA's hurricane records show 1 hurricane and 7 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Waynesboro City. 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 city, not a single property, and are not insurance or safety advice. Report a problem.