Natural Disasters in Big Stone Gap East, VA

Hazard risk, disaster history, and FEMA data

Natural Hazard Risk

Source: FEMA National Risk Index

Risk Score

50.4

Relatively Low

Expected Annual Loss

45.9

Score (0-100)

Social Vulnerability

62.5

Score (0-100)

Community Resilience

6.1

Score (0-100)

Top Hazard Risks

Landslide88.5Wildfire84.3Cold Wave75.5

Hazard	Risk Score
Landslide	88.5
Wildfire	84.3
Cold Wave	75.5
Avalanche	69.0
Winter Weather	65.5
Earthquake	57.8
Strong Wind	54.6
Hurricane	48.7
Drought	30.6
Tornado	21.6
Lightning	19.6
Hail	19.3
Ice Storm	12.2

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

Severe Storm

6 declarations

Date	Type	Declaration
Jan 23, 2026	Winter Storm	SEVERE WINTER STORM
Apr 4, 2025	Severe Storm	SEVERE WINTER STORMS AND FLOODING
Oct 1, 2024	Tropical Storm	TROPICAL STORM HELENE
Sep 29, 2024	Tropical Storm	POST-TROPICAL CYCLONE HELENE
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
Feb 16, 2010	Snowstorm	SEVERE WINTER STORM AND SNOWSTORM
Sep 12, 2005	Hurricane	HURRICANE KATRINA EVACUATION
Mar 27, 2003	Severe Storm	SEVERE WINTER STORM, RECORD/NEAR RECORD SNOWFALL, HEAVY RAIN,FLOODIND, AND MUDSLIDE
May 5, 2002	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES, AND FLOODING
Apr 2, 2002	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING
Jul 12, 2001	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING
Feb 28, 2000	Severe Storm	SEVERE WINTER STORMS
Jan 13, 1996	Snowstorm	BLIZZARD OF 96 (SEVERE SNOW STORM)
Mar 10, 1994	Snowstorm	SEVERE ICE STORMS, FLOODING
Mar 25, 1993	Snowstorm	SEVERE WINTER STORM
Apr 7, 1977	Flood	SEVERE STORMS & FLOODING

Flood Insurance (NFIP)

Source: FEMA NFIP

Total Claims

348

Total Claims Paid

$2,685,111

Avg Claim Payout

$7,716

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

Disaster Recovery Spending

Source: FEMA Public Assistance

Total Federal Spending

$2,260,654

Disasters with PA

Total Projects

Disaster	Type	Projects	Federal $
DR-4831	Tropical Storm	20	$1,220,527
DR-4863	Winter Storm	7	$903,643
DR-4512	Biological	2	$134,052
DR-1874	Snow	1	$2,433

Hazard Mitigation

Source: FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance

Mitigation Projects

Federal Funding

$1,669,965

Properties Protected

Avg Benefit-Cost Ratio

2.49

BCR

Top Mitigation Project Types

Project Type	Projects	Federal $
200.1: Acquisition of Private Real Property (Structures and Land) - Riverine	5	$1,598,912
302.1: Landslide Stabilization - Structural	2	$0
91.5: Local Multijurisdictional Multihazard Mitigation Plan - UPDATE	2	$71,053
200.1: Acquisition of Private Real Property (Structures and Land) - Riverine; 200.3: Acquisition of Public Real Property (Structures and Land) - Riverine	1	$0

Federally funded projects to reduce future disaster risk. Only includes completed or obligated projects.

Big Stone Gap East has a relatively low overall natural hazard risk rating according to FEMA's National Risk Index. The top hazard risks are landslide, wildfire, cold wave. The area has had 19 federal disaster declarations. The most common disaster type is severe storm (6 declarations). 348 flood insurance claims have been filed in the area. FEMA has obligated $2,260,654 in public assistance recovery funding. 10 hazard mitigation projects have been funded to reduce future risk.