Orange County
Virginia — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 26th
Orange County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 25.6, 26th national percentile), driven primarily by drought and hurricane exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $11M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Drought | Medium | 3.51 / yr | $1M |
| Hurricane | Low | 0.08 / yr | $2M |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $661K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 4.69 / yr | $636K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 4.75 / yr | $337K |
| Lightning | Low | 40.59 / yr | $207K |
| Hail | Low | 3.24 / yr | $215K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 1.93 / yr | $5M |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.37 / yr | $527 |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $19K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 8.02 / yr | $34K |
| Tornado | Very Low | 0.18 / yr | $482K |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.56 / yr | $26K |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 1.11 / yr | $81K |
| 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 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Orange County?
Orange County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 25.6 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 26th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Orange County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Drought (Medium, $1M EAL), Hurricane (Low, $2M EAL), Earthquake (Low, $661K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Orange County compare to other Virginia counties?
Orange County ranks #68 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. Orange County's $11M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.