Natural Disasters in Amherst, VA

Hazard risk, disaster history, and FEMA data

Natural Hazard Risk

Source: FEMA National Risk Index

Risk Score

21.0

Very Low

Expected Annual Loss

19.6

Score (0-100)

Social Vulnerability

57.8

Score (0-100)

Community Resilience

41.0

Score (0-100)

Top Hazard Risks

Hurricane66.2Landslide64.6Strong Wind57.1

Hazard	Risk Score
Hurricane	66.2
Landslide	64.6
Strong Wind	57.1
Avalanche	56.7
Earthquake	54.4
Lightning	51.0
Wildfire	45.1
Drought	37.7
Winter Weather	33.0
Ice Storm	30.8
Tornado	22.2
Heat Wave	21.5
Hail	14.7
Cold Wave	14.5

Scores range from 0 (lowest risk) to 100 (highest risk) relative to all U.S. communities. Data from FEMA National Risk Index.

Disaster Declarations

Source: FEMA OpenFEMA

Total Declarations

Most Recent

Winter Storm

Jan 2026

Most Common Type

Hurricane

6 declarations

Date	Type	Declaration
Jan 23, 2026	Winter Storm	SEVERE WINTER STORM
Apr 2, 2020	Biological	COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Mar 13, 2020	Biological	COVID-19
Sep 11, 2018	Hurricane	HURRICANE FLORENCE
Oct 29, 2012	Hurricane	HURRICANE SANDY
Jul 27, 2012	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS AND STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS
Feb 16, 2010	Snowstorm	SEVERE WINTER STORM AND SNOWSTORM
Sep 12, 2005	Hurricane	HURRICANE KATRINA EVACUATION
Sep 18, 2003	Hurricane	HURRICANE ISABEL
Feb 28, 2000	Severe Storm	SEVERE WINTER STORMS
Sep 6, 1996	Hurricane	HURRICANE FRAN AND ASSOCIATED SEVERE STORM COND
Jan 13, 1996	Snowstorm	BLIZZARD OF 96 (SEVERE SNOW STORM)
Jul 1, 1995	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING
Apr 11, 1994	Severe Storm	SEVERE WINTER ICE STORM
Mar 10, 1994	Snowstorm	SEVERE ICE STORMS, FLOODING
Mar 25, 1993	Snowstorm	SEVERE WINTER STORM
May 19, 1992	Flood	SEVERE STORMS & FLOODING
Nov 9, 1985	Flood	SEVERE STORMS & FLOODING
Jul 23, 1977	Drought	DROUGHT
Oct 15, 1976	Drought	DROUGHT

Showing 20 of 23 declarations

Flood Insurance (NFIP)

Source: FEMA NFIP

Total Claims

Total Claims Paid

$756,454

Avg Claim Payout

$14,273

County-level NFIP data from FEMA National Flood Insurance Program.

Disaster Recovery Spending

Source: FEMA Public Assistance

Total Federal Spending

$31,450

Disasters with PA

Total Projects

Disaster	Type	Projects	Federal $
DR-4072	Severe Storm(s)	4	$31,450

Amherst has a very low overall natural hazard risk rating according to FEMA's National Risk Index. The top hazard risks are hurricane, landslide, strong wind. The area has had 23 federal disaster declarations. The most common disaster type is hurricane (6 declarations). 53 flood insurance claims have been filed in the area. FEMA has obligated $31,450 in public assistance recovery funding.