Chesterfield County
Virginia — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
MediumComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 85th
Chesterfield County faces medium composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 84.8, 85th national percentile), driven primarily by earthquake and riverine flood exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $79M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $7M |
| Riverine Flood | Medium | 1.43 / yr | $53M |
| Winter Weather | High | 5.26 / yr | $446K |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 5.29 / yr | $3M |
| Hurricane | Medium | 0.13 / yr | $6M |
| Ice Storm | High | 1.37 / yr | $767K |
| Lightning | High | 43.60 / yr | $1M |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.23 / yr | $5M |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 1.23 / yr | $1M |
| Drought | Low | 5.77 / yr | $396K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.24 / yr | $2K |
| Coastal Flood | Low | 3.69 / yr | $67K |
| Hail | Low | 2.27 / yr | $305K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $47K |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 0.47 / yr | $44K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Chesterfield County?
Chesterfield County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 84.8 out of 100, placing it in the Medium category and the 85th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Chesterfield County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Earthquake (Low, $7M EAL), Riverine Flood (Medium, $53M EAL), Winter Weather (High, $446K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Chesterfield County compare to other Virginia counties?
Chesterfield County ranks #2 of 133 Virginia counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a medium rating.
What does Expected Annual Loss (EAL) mean?
EAL is FEMA's estimate of average annual dollar losses from natural hazards, calculated from historical event data and exposure models. Chesterfield County's $79M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.