Westmoreland County

Virginia — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment

Very Low

Composite Risk Score

37.4

National percentile: 37th

Westmoreland County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 37.4, 37th national percentile), driven primarily by hurricane and drought exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $9M.

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

Expected Annual Loss $9M Annualized county-level EAL
Social Vulnerability High Population sensitivity
Community Resilience High Capacity to recover
Population 18K Latest estimate

Top Hazards

Hurricane
Medium $4M/yr
Drought
Medium $920K/yr
Coastal Flood
Medium $582K/yr

All 18 Hazard Risks

Hurricane Medium 0.13 / yr $4M
Drought Medium 4.06 / yr $920K
Coastal Flood Medium 3.65 / yr $582K
Landslide Very Low 0.13 / yr $1K
Earthquake Very Low 0.00 / yr $188K
Strong Wind Low 3.45 / yr $342K
Ice Storm Low 0.73 / yr $40K
Heat Wave Very Low 4.79 / yr $161K
Riverine Flood Very Low 0.61 / yr $3M
Hail Very Low 2.67 / yr $89K
Lightning Low 39.97 / yr $78K
Tornado Low 0.16 / yr $319K
Winter Weather Low 5.89 / yr $20K
Wildfire Very Low 0.00 / yr $5K
Cold Wave Very Low 0.89 / yr $80K
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 Westmoreland County?

Westmoreland County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 37.4 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 37th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.

What are the top natural hazards in Westmoreland County?

The three highest-rated hazards are Hurricane (Medium, $4M EAL), Drought (Medium, $920K EAL), Coastal Flood (Medium, $582K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.

How does Westmoreland County compare to other Virginia counties?

Westmoreland County ranks #55 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. Westmoreland County's $9M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.