Williamsburg City, Virginia
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
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
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 6.6 | $1M | ||
| Hurricane | 67.0 | $695K | ||
| Tornado | 19.0 | $342K | ||
| Strong wind | 22.9 | $335K | ||
| Earthquake | 40.5 | $249K | ||
| Heat wave | 24.9 | $151K | ||
| Cold wave | 10.9 | $137K | ||
| Lightning | 12.1 | $65K | ||
| Ice storm | 31.1 | $54K | ||
| Hail | 7.9 | $36K | ||
| Winter weather | 16.9 | $23K | ||
| Coastal flooding | 37.4 | $19K | ||
| Wildfire | 8.2 | $4K | ||
| Landslide | 10.8 | $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
Most recent
Show all 14
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.
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 2, 1996 | Lightning | Williamsburg | $20K |
| Mar 10, 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Williamsburg | $20K |
| May 11, 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | Williamsburg | $8K |
| Aug 10, 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | Williamsburg | $5K |
| May 11, 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | Williamsburg | $5K |
| Jun 13, 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | Williamsburg | $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.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 23, 1878 | Unnamed | Category 2, 100 mph | 38 mi |
| Aug 13, 1955 | Connie | Category 1, 85 mph | 60 mi |
| Aug 23, 1933 | Unnamed | Category 1, 85 mph | 61 mi |
| Sep 16, 1999 | Floyd | Category 1, 75 mph | 60 mi |
| Sep 17, 1876 | Unnamed | Category 1, 75 mph | 49 mi |
| Oct 10, 1894 | Unnamed | Category 1, 75 mph | 51 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 9, 2021 | Elsa | Tropical storm, 55 mph | 52 mi |
| Aug 4, 2020 | Isaias | Tropical storm, 70 mph | 43 mi |
| Sep 6, 2008 | Hanna | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 52 mi |
| Aug 30, 2004 | Gaston | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 8 mi |
| Sep 16, 1999 | Floyd | Category 1, 75 mph | 60 mi |
| Jul 24, 1997 | Danny | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 56 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 ›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
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 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 |
|---|---|---|
| James City County | 16 | |
| York County | 17 |
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.