Portsmouth City
Virginia — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 54th
Portsmouth City faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 54.0, 54th national percentile), driven primarily by hurricane and winter weather exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $18M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Hurricane | Medium | 0.24 / yr | $5M |
| Winter Weather | Medium | 2.81 / yr | $177K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 6.12 / yr | $1M |
| Lightning | Medium | 40.84 / yr | $467K |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $613K |
| Coastal Flood | Medium | 3.65 / yr | $734K |
| Ice Storm | Low | 0.76 / yr | $127K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 1.14 / yr | $7M |
| Tornado | Low | 0.02 / yr | $1M |
| Cold Wave | Low | 0.47 / yr | $908K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 0.54 / yr | $408K |
| Hail | Low | 1.39 / yr | $168K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $8K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $16 |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Drought | Very Low | 1.51 / 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 Portsmouth City?
Portsmouth City has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 54.0 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 54th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Portsmouth City?
The three highest-rated hazards are Hurricane (Medium, $5M EAL), Winter Weather (Medium, $177K EAL), Heat Wave (Low, $1M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Portsmouth City compare to other Virginia counties?
Portsmouth City ranks #29 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. Portsmouth City's $18M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.