Giles County

Virginia — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment

Very Low

Composite Risk Score

16.6

National percentile: 17th

Giles County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 16.6, 17th national percentile), driven primarily by landslide and avalanche exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $5M.

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

Expected Annual Loss $5M Annualized county-level EAL
Social Vulnerability High Population sensitivity
Community Resilience Medium Capacity to recover
Population 17K Latest estimate

Top Hazards

Landslide
Medium $37K/yr
Avalanche
Low $3K/yr
Earthquake
Very Low $156K/yr

All 18 Hazard Risks

Landslide Medium 1.03 / yr $37K
Avalanche Low 0.01 / yr $3K
Earthquake Very Low 0.00 / yr $156K
Riverine Flood Low 1.71 / yr $4M
Hurricane Very Low 0.01 / yr $20K
Cold Wave Low 4.58 / yr $425K
Winter Weather Low 12.53 / yr $27K
Lightning Low 43.17 / yr $94K
Drought Very Low 1.25 / yr $6K
Strong Wind Low 2.42 / yr $127K
Hail Very Low 3.79 / yr $37K
Wildfire Very Low 0.00 / yr $4K
Ice Storm Very Low 0.37 / yr $5K
Tornado Very Low 0.04 / yr $56K
Coastal Flood Very Low 0.00 / yr $0
Heat Wave 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 Giles County?

Giles County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 16.6 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 Giles County?

The three highest-rated hazards are Landslide (Medium, $37K EAL), Avalanche (Low, $3K EAL), Earthquake (Very Low, $156K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.

How does Giles County compare to other Virginia counties?

Giles County ranks #90 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. Giles County's $5M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.