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Westmoreland County, Virginia

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

Very Low overall risk
55th of 133highest risk in Virginia
$9Mexpected losses a year
23federal declarations
1 in 43homes with flood insurance
Photo: CC0

Westmoreland County, Virginia has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 63% of US counties. It ranks 55th of 133 counties in Virginia. The costliest hazards here are hurricanes, inland flooding and drought. FEMA estimates about $9.1 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $491 per resident. Since 1969 it has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (16 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). About 1 in 43 homes here carry federal flood insurance (345 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $6.5 million on 230 claims here, including $4.4 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 Westmoreland County

Hurricane

Moderate
$3.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 8 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.
$2.7 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.

Drought

Moderate
$920,049 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 4 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
HurricaneModerate86.6
$4M
Inland floodingVery Low29.7
$3M
DroughtModerate84.2
$920K
Coastal floodingModerate64.8
$582K
Strong windLow42.5
$342K
TornadoLow26.9
$319K
EarthquakeVery Low47.5
$188K
Heat waveVery Low38.2
$161K
HailVery Low29.5
$89K
Cold waveVery Low11.8
$80K
LightningLow28.0
$78K
Ice stormLow39.6
$40K
Winter weatherLow26.8
$20K
WildfireVery Low16.6
$5K
LandslideVery Low51.2
$1K

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 high and community resilience is relatively high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

Federal declarations for natural events that included Westmoreland County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Hurricane12
Severe Storm4
Snowstorm3
Flood2
Freezing1
Winter Storm1

Most recent

Jan 23, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
Mar 11, 2022Severe Winter Storm and SnowstormMajor disaster
Dec 18, 2018Tropical Storm MichaelMajor disaster
Sep 11, 2018Hurricane FlorenceEmergency
Nov 26, 2012Hurricane SandyMajor disaster
Oct 29, 2012Hurricane SandyEmergency
Nov 17, 2011The Remnants of Tropical Storm LeeMajor disaster
Sep 3, 2011Hurricane IreneMajor disaster
Aug 26, 2011Hurricane IreneEmergency
Sep 22, 2006Tropical Depression Ernesto, Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 23
Sep 12, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Sep 18, 2003Hurricane IsabelMajor disaster
Feb 28, 2000Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Sep 18, 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster DeclarationsMajor disaster
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 10, 1994Severe Ice Storms, FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 25, 1993Severe Winter StormEmergency
Nov 9, 1985Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 26, 1977Ice ConditionsMajor disaster
Jun 23, 1972Tropical Storm AgnesMajor disaster
Aug 23, 1969Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1960

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 217 storm reports in Westmoreland County since 1960 and about $1.8 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF1 tornado on February 24, 2016 near Nomini Grove.

7tornadoes
27hail reports, largest 2 inches
122damaging thunderstorm winds
36floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Feb 24, 2016EF1Nomini Grove0 / 0
Jun 24, 1996F0Baynesville0 / 0
Apr 4, 1999F0Kinsale0 / 0
Feb 21, 2014EF0Foneswood0 / 0
Jul 13, 1996F0Hague0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Feb 24, 2016TornadoNomini Grove$983K
Sep 16, 1999Flash FloodCountywide$250K
Jun 24, 1996TornadoBaynesville$170K
Aug 6, 2000Thunderstorm WindNomini Grove$50K
Jul 17, 1975Tornado–$25K
Apr 4, 1999TornadoKinsale$25K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 18, 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, 2 hurricanes and 26 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Westmoreland County, 10 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1878, with top winds near 100 mph about 55 miles away.

2hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
26tropical storms
2021most recent: Elsa

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 23, 1878UnnamedCategory 2, 100 mph55 mi
Aug 23, 1933UnnamedCategory 1, 75 mph49 mi
Sep 17, 1876UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph52 mi
Aug 13, 1955ConnieTropical storm, 70 mph56 mi
Aug 4, 2020IsaiasTropical storm, 70 mph61 mi
Jul 13, 1996BerthaTropical storm, 70 mph61 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Jul 9, 2021ElsaTropical storm, 55 mph54 mi
Aug 4, 2020IsaiasTropical storm, 70 mph61 mi
Sep 6, 2008HannaTropical storm, 50 mph46 mi
Aug 30, 2004GastonTropical storm, 40 mph64 mi
Jul 13, 1996BerthaTropical storm, 70 mph61 mi
Sep 30, 1983DeanTropical storm, 45 mph58 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 Westmoreland County

Check your address flood zone ›
2.3%of homes have federal flood insurance (345 policies)
36.7%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$6.5 millionpaid on 230 flood claims since 1978
2003costliest year, with $4.4 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 Westmoreland County

$269,600median home value (Virginia $383,700, US $332,700)
1984median year homes were built (Virginia 1984, US 1980)
45%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
7.6%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; 11,448 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
Charles County, MDLow22
St. Mary's County, MDVery Low16
King George CountyVery Low25
Northumberland CountyVery Low23
Essex CountyVery Low25
Richmond CountyVery Low22

Common questions about Westmoreland County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Westmoreland County?

Hurricane has the highest expected yearly losses in Westmoreland County, about $3.6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $2.7 million.

How many federal disasters has Westmoreland County had?

Westmoreland County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1969, including 16 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is Westmoreland County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 55th 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 Westmoreland County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 43 homes in Westmoreland 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 Westmoreland County had?

NOAA records list 7 tornadoes in Westmoreland County since 1950. The strongest was an EF1 tornado on February 24, 2016 near Nomini Grove. The weather service has also logged 27 hail reports and 36 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Westmoreland County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 2 hurricanes and 26 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Westmoreland County. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1878, with winds near 100 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.