Northumberland County

Virginia — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment

Very Low

Composite Risk Score

40.0

National percentile: 40th

Northumberland County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 40.0, 40th national percentile), driven primarily by drought and hurricane exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $8M.

Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025

Expected Annual Loss $8M Annualized county-level EAL
Social Vulnerability Very High Population sensitivity
Community Resilience High Capacity to recover
Population 12K Latest estimate

Top Hazards

Drought
Medium $938K/yr
Hurricane
Medium $3M/yr
Strong Wind
High $1M/yr

All 18 Hazard Risks

Drought Medium 3.60 / yr $938K
Hurricane Medium 0.16 / yr $3M
Strong Wind High 2.24 / yr $1M
Coastal Flood Medium 3.68 / yr $668K
Ice Storm Low 0.76 / yr $43K
Earthquake Very Low 0.00 / yr $97K
Landslide Very Low 0.07 / yr $316
Heat Wave Very Low 4.95 / yr $99K
Cold Wave Low 0.89 / yr $262K
Tornado Low 0.15 / yr $286K
Winter Weather Very Low 4.95 / yr $13K
Riverine Flood Very Low 0.39 / yr $2M
Wildfire Very Low 0.00 / yr $5K
Hail Very Low 1.97 / yr $28K
Lightning Very Low 38.80 / yr $29K
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 Northumberland County?

Northumberland County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 40.0 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 40th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.

What are the top natural hazards in Northumberland County?

The three highest-rated hazards are Drought (Medium, $938K EAL), Hurricane (Medium, $3M EAL), Strong Wind (High, $1M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.

How does Northumberland County compare to other Virginia counties?

Northumberland County ranks #51 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. Northumberland County's $8M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.