James City County
Virginia — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 53th
James City County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 53.3, 53th national percentile), driven primarily by drought and hurricane exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $22M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Drought | Medium | 2.48 / yr | $2M |
| Hurricane | Medium | 0.21 / yr | $3M |
| Ice Storm | Medium | 1.36 / yr | $240K |
| Lightning | Medium | 42.90 / yr | $512K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 6.26 / yr | $782K |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $608K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 0.57 / yr | $12M |
| Winter Weather | Low | 4.43 / yr | $117K |
| Coastal Flood | Low | 3.69 / yr | $275K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.09 / yr | $2K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.10 / yr | $2M |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $48K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 0.78 / yr | $559K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 0.47 / yr | $733K |
| Hail | Very Low | 2.05 / yr | $168K |
| 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 James City County?
James City County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 53.3 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 53th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in James City County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Drought (Medium, $2M EAL), Hurricane (Medium, $3M EAL), Ice Storm (Medium, $240K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does James City County compare to other Virginia counties?
James City County ranks #31 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. James City County's $22M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.