Virginia Beach City
Virginia — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 58th
Virginia Beach City faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 57.9, 58th national percentile), driven primarily by heat wave and hurricane exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $31M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Heat Wave | Medium | 6.07 / yr | $5M |
| Hurricane | Medium | 0.24 / yr | $10M |
| Lightning | High | 40.25 / yr | $2M |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $1M |
| Coastal Flood | Medium | 3.43 / yr | $1M |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.20 / yr | $3M |
| Cold Wave | Low | 0.46 / yr | $2M |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $102K |
| Hail | Low | 1.37 / yr | $495K |
| Ice Storm | Low | 0.74 / yr | $95K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 2.88 / yr | $63K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 1.32 / yr | $5M |
| Drought | Very Low | 0.82 / yr | $10K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.03 / yr | $108 |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | 0.53 / yr | $179K |
| 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 Virginia Beach City?
Virginia Beach City has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 57.9 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 58th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Virginia Beach City?
The three highest-rated hazards are Heat Wave (Medium, $5M EAL), Hurricane (Medium, $10M EAL), Lightning (High, $2M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Virginia Beach City compare to other Virginia counties?
Virginia Beach City ranks #25 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. Virginia Beach City's $31M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.