Charlotte County, Virginia Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · VA
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 17th
Charlotte County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 17.4, 17th national percentile), driven primarily by drought and hurricane exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $4M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Charlotte County at very low composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 17.4 out of 100 — placing it in the 17th national percentile and among the lowest-risk counties in the country. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
Most of Charlotte County's expected losses come from drought (extended dry periods that stress water supplies and agriculture) at High risk — $1M in expected annual loss and about 8.68 events per year; hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at Low risk — $528K in expected annual loss and about 0.10 events per year; and earthquake (ground shaking from sudden movement along geologic faults) at Very Low risk — $134K in expected annual loss and about 0.00 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $4M in expected annual loss for a population of 12K.
Beyond physical exposure, Charlotte County has a very high social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a low community resilience rating (its capacity to prepare for and recover from disasters). That combination — a more vulnerable population with limited resilience — can amplify the human cost of any given event.
The county's disaster history tells the same story: Charlotte County has received 22 federal disaster declarations since 1972, including 6 for hurricane events and 5 for severe storm events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in January 2026.
Among 133 Virginia counties, Charlotte County ranks #86 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Drought | High | 8.68 / yr | $1M |
| Hurricane | Low | 0.10 / yr | $528K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $134K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.49 / yr | $217 |
| Lightning | Low | 42.87 / yr | $66K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 6.21 / yr | $17K |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 2.53 / yr | $57K |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 1.50 / yr | $14K |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 0.63 / yr | $165K |
| Hail | Very Low | 3.15 / yr | $49K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 2.20 / yr | $124K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 1.86 / yr | $1M |
| Tornado | Very Low | 0.16 / yr | $122K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $2K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Disaster History
Charlotte County has received 22 federal disaster declarations since 1972, most recently Severe Winter Storm in January 2026. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (6), Severe Storm (5), Snowstorm (3).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| January 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| April 2025 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms and Flooding |
| October 2024 | Tropical Storm | Tropical Storm Helene |
| March 2022 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm |
| May 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| April 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| December 2018 | Hurricane | Tropical Storm Michael |
| September 2018 | Hurricane | Hurricane Florence |
| October 2012 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
Showing the 10 most recent of 22 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Charlotte County?
Charlotte County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 17.4 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 17th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Charlotte County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Drought (High, $1M EAL), Hurricane (Low, $528K EAL), Earthquake (Very Low, $134K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Charlotte County compare to other Virginia counties?
Charlotte County ranks #86 of 133 Virginia counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Charlotte County had?
FEMA records 22 federal disaster declarations for Charlotte County since 1972, most often 6 for hurricane events and 5 for severe storm events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm, declared in January 2026.
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. Charlotte County's $4M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.