Richmond City

Virginia — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment

Low

Composite Risk Score

78.4

National percentile: 78th

Richmond City faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 78.4, 78th national percentile), driven primarily by earthquake and heat wave exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $39M.

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

Expected Annual Loss $39M Annualized county-level EAL
Social Vulnerability Low Population sensitivity
Community Resilience Medium Capacity to recover
Population 226K Latest estimate

Top Hazards

Earthquake
Medium $8M/yr
Heat Wave
Medium $3M/yr
Riverine Flood
Medium $22M/yr

All 18 Hazard Risks

Earthquake Medium 0.00 / yr $8M
Heat Wave Medium 5.37 / yr $3M
Riverine Flood Medium 0.86 / yr $22M
Hurricane Low 0.10 / yr $2M
Tornado Medium 0.03 / yr $2M
Ice Storm Low 1.27 / yr $132K
Hail Low 2.43 / yr $370K
Lightning Medium 43.39 / yr $308K
Cold Wave Low 0.58 / yr $1M
Winter Weather Low 5.32 / yr $71K
Coastal Flood Very Low 3.72 / yr $15K
Strong Wind Low 2.16 / yr $288K
Landslide Very Low 0.03 / yr $128
Wildfire Very Low 0.00 / yr $6K
Avalanche Very Low 0.00 / yr $0
Drought Very Low 5.40 / 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 Richmond City?

Richmond City has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 78.4 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 78th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.

What are the top natural hazards in Richmond City?

The three highest-rated hazards are Earthquake (Medium, $8M EAL), Heat Wave (Medium, $3M EAL), Riverine Flood (Medium, $22M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.

How does Richmond City compare to other Virginia counties?

Richmond City ranks #8 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. Richmond City's $39M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.