Fauquier County
Virginia — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 48th
Fauquier County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 47.7, 48th national percentile), driven primarily by lightning and hurricane exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $22M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Lightning | Medium | 40.45 / yr | $999K |
| Hurricane | Low | 0.09 / yr | $1M |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 2.68 / yr | $16M |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 6.85 / yr | $1M |
| Heat Wave | Low | 4.47 / yr | $965K |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $710K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.60 / yr | $3K |
| Hail | Low | 3.67 / yr | $372K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 10.38 / yr | $91K |
| Drought | Low | 2.93 / yr | $149K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $28K |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.64 / yr | $34K |
| Tornado | Very Low | 0.40 / yr | $248K |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 1.60 / yr | $156K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $8 |
| Coastal Flood | 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 Fauquier County?
Fauquier County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 47.7 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 48th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Fauquier County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Lightning (Medium, $999K EAL), Hurricane (Low, $1M EAL), Riverine Flood (Low, $16M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Fauquier County compare to other Virginia counties?
Fauquier County ranks #39 of 133 Virginia counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low 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. Fauquier County's $22M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.