Lancaster County
Virginia — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 32th
Lancaster County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 32.3, 32th national percentile), driven primarily by drought and hurricane exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $7M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Drought | High | 3.50 / yr | $2M |
| Hurricane | Medium | 0.17 / yr | $3M |
| Coastal Flood | Medium | 3.69 / yr | $394K |
| Ice Storm | Low | 1.04 / yr | $51K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $132K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 1.40 / yr | $221K |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 5.11 / yr | $96K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.04 / yr | $139 |
| Cold Wave | Low | 0.89 / yr | $224K |
| Tornado | Very Low | 0.12 / yr | $191K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $5K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 0.39 / yr | $1M |
| Lightning | Very Low | 39.95 / yr | $28K |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 4.84 / yr | $6K |
| Hail | Very Low | 1.98 / yr | $24K |
| 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 Lancaster County?
Lancaster County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 32.3 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 32th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Lancaster County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Drought (High, $2M EAL), Hurricane (Medium, $3M EAL), Coastal Flood (Medium, $394K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Lancaster County compare to other Virginia counties?
Lancaster County ranks #60 of 133 Virginia counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very 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. Lancaster County's $7M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.