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Williamsburg City, Virginia

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

Very Low overall risk
130th of 133highest risk in Virginia
$4Mexpected losses a year
14federal declarations
1 in 111homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Williamsburg City, Virginia has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 98% of US counties. It ranks 130th of 133 counties in Virginia. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, hurricanes and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $3.6 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $234 per resident. Since 1972 it has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (8 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). Only 32 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $84,000 on 18 claims here.

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

Top risks in Williamsburg City

$1.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 7 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.
$695,185 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 4 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.

Tornado

Very Low
$342,476 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 200 years.
  • Pick a shelter spot: a basement, or an inside room on the lowest floor with no windows.
  • Turn on emergency alerts on your phone and keep a weather radio.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low6.6
$1M
HurricaneLow67.0
$695K
TornadoVery Low19.0
$342K
Strong windLow22.9
$335K
EarthquakeVery Low40.5
$249K
Heat waveVery Low24.9
$151K
Cold waveVery Low10.9
$137K
LightningVery Low12.1
$65K
Ice stormLow31.1
$54K
HailVery Low7.9
$36K
Winter weatherVery Low16.9
$23K
Coastal floodingVery Low37.4
$19K
WildfireVery Low8.2
$4K
LandslideVery Low10.8
$51

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 Williamsburg City. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Hurricane9
Snowstorm2
Flood1
Severe Storm1
Winter Storm1

Most recent

Jan 23, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
Oct 15, 2018Hurricane FlorenceMajor disaster
Sep 11, 2018Hurricane FlorenceEmergency
Oct 29, 2012Hurricane SandyEmergency
Sep 3, 2011Hurricane IreneMajor disaster
Aug 26, 2011Hurricane IreneEmergency
Sep 12, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Sep 18, 2003Hurricane IsabelMajor disaster
Feb 28, 2000Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Sep 18, 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster DeclarationsMajor disaster
Show all 14
Sep 6, 1996Hurricane Fran and Associated Severe Storm CondMajor disaster
Jan 13, 1996Blizzard of 96 (Severe Snow Storm)Major disaster
Mar 25, 1993Severe Winter StormEmergency
Jun 23, 1972Tropical Storm AgnesMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1977

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 85 storm reports in Williamsburg City since 1977, with 1 death and 2 injuries and about $112,000 in reported damage. No tornadoes are on record here.

0tornadoes
8hail reports, largest 1.75 inches
37damaging thunderstorm winds
5floods and flash floods

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jan 2, 1996LightningWilliamsburg$20K
Mar 10, 2011Thunderstorm WindWilliamsburg$20K
May 11, 1996Thunderstorm WindWilliamsburg$8K
Aug 10, 2022Thunderstorm WindWilliamsburg$5K
May 11, 1996Thunderstorm WindWilliamsburg$5K
Jun 13, 2013Thunderstorm WindWilliamsburg$5K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Aug 3, 2024. 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 1854, 6 hurricanes and 32 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Williamsburg City, 16 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1878, with top winds near 100 mph about 38 miles away.

6hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
32tropical storms
2021most recent: Elsa

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 23, 1878UnnamedCategory 2, 100 mph38 mi
Aug 13, 1955ConnieCategory 1, 85 mph60 mi
Aug 23, 1933UnnamedCategory 1, 85 mph61 mi
Sep 16, 1999FloydCategory 1, 75 mph60 mi
Sep 17, 1876UnnamedCategory 1, 75 mph49 mi
Oct 10, 1894UnnamedCategory 1, 75 mph51 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Jul 9, 2021ElsaTropical storm, 55 mph52 mi
Aug 4, 2020IsaiasTropical storm, 70 mph43 mi
Sep 6, 2008HannaTropical storm, 50 mph52 mi
Aug 30, 2004GastonTropical storm, 40 mph8 mi
Sep 16, 1999FloydCategory 1, 75 mph60 mi
Jul 24, 1997DannyTropical storm, 50 mph56 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 Williamsburg City

Check your address flood zone ›
0.9%of homes have federal flood insurance (32 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$84,430paid on 18 flood claims since 1978
1989costliest year, with $62,803 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 Williamsburg City

$428,100median home value (Virginia $383,700, US $332,700)
1987median year homes were built (Virginia 1984, US 1980)
38%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
0%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; 5,799 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
James City CountyLow16
York CountyLow17

Common questions about Williamsburg City

What is the biggest natural hazard in Williamsburg City?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Williamsburg City, about $1.5 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Hurricane is second at $695,185.

How many federal disasters has Williamsburg City had?

Williamsburg City has been included in 14 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 Williamsburg City a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 130th 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 Williamsburg City?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 111 homes in Williamsburg 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 Williamsburg City had?

NOAA records list 0 tornadoes in Williamsburg City since 1950. The weather service has also logged 8 hail reports and 5 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Williamsburg City?

NOAA's hurricane records show 6 hurricanes and 32 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Williamsburg City. 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 city, not a single property, and are not insurance or safety advice. Report a problem.