Virginia natural disasters & FEMA declarations
VA · 29th most declarations of 51 states/DC
Virginia has had 77 federally declared disasters since 1957, the 29th most of any US state or DC. Its most common hazard is Severe Storm (20 declarations, about 26% of the total). The most recent declaration was "Severe Winter Storm" (Winter Storm), on Jan 23, 2026.
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Declarations by hazard type
These are the distinct FEMA disaster declarations for Virginia, grouped by their primary incident type. A single declaration can affect many counties; each is counted once here.
| Hazard / incident type | Declarations | Share of state total |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Storm | 20 | 26% |
| Flood | 16 | 21% |
| Hurricane | 16 | 21% |
| Fire | 8 | 10% |
| Snowstorm | 6 | 8% |
| Tropical Storm | 2 | 3% |
| Biological | 2 | 3% |
| Drought | 2 | 3% |
| Winter Storm | 1 | 1% |
| Severe Ice Storm | 1 | 1% |
| Earthquake | 1 | 1% |
| Terrorist | 1 | 1% |
| Freezing | 1 | 1% |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Declarations by program type
FEMA issues several kinds of declaration. Major Disaster (DR) declarations unlock the widest assistance; Emergency (EM) declarations are more limited; and Fire Management Assistance (FM) grants help fight large wildfires.
| Declaration type | Declarations |
|---|---|
| Major Disaster (DR) | 58 |
| Emergency (EM) | 12 |
| Fire Management Assistance (FM) | 7 |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Declarations by decade
How Virginia's declaration count has changed over time. Earlier decades reflect both fewer disasters and a narrower federal declaration program; recent decades are the most complete.
| Decade | Declarations |
|---|---|
| 1950s | 1 |
| 1960s | 3 |
| 1970s | 10 |
| 1980s | 2 |
| 1990s | 14 |
| 2000s | 20 |
| 2010s | 17 |
| 2020s | 10 |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Most recent declarations
| Date | Title | Type | FEMA ID |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 23, 2026 | Severe Winter Storm | Winter Storm | EM-3631-VA |
| Apr 4, 2025 | Severe Winter Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | DR-4863-VA |
| Oct 1, 2024 | Tropical Storm Helene | Tropical Storm | DR-4831-VA |
| Sep 29, 2024 | Post-tropical Cyclone Helene | Tropical Storm | EM-3621-VA |
| Sep 30, 2022 | Flooding And Mudslides | Severe Storm | DR-4674-VA |
| Mar 11, 2022 | Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm | Severe Storm | DR-4644-VA |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Notable earthquakes in or near Virginia
No magnitude-6.0+ earthquakes are attributed to Virginia in the USGS catalog used here. That does not mean the state has zero seismic risk — smaller earthquakes occur in most states. See our earthquake risk by region guide.
Frequently asked questions
How many federally declared disasters has Virginia had?
Virginia has had 77 distinct FEMA disaster declarations since 1957, the 29th most of any US state or DC, according to FEMA's Disaster Declarations Summaries.
What is the most common disaster in Virginia?
The most common federally declared disaster type in Virginia is "Severe Storm", with 20 declarations — about 26% of the state's total.
When was the most recent disaster declaration in Virginia?
The most recent FEMA declaration in Virginia in this snapshot was "Severe Winter Storm" (Winter Storm), declared Jan 23, 2026.
Related
Source & notes
Disaster data from OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2; earthquake data from USGS Earthquake Hazards Program (FDSN event service). Both are US public domain. Counts are distinct declarations (a declaration affecting many counties is counted once). HazardMap is not affiliated with or endorsed by FEMA or USGS; this is general information, not safety or insurance advice. Verify with official sources.
Last updated: 2026-06-18