Natural Disasters in Chesapeake, VA

Hazard risk, disaster history, and FEMA data

Natural Hazard Risk

Source: FEMA National Risk Index

Risk Score

80.9

Relatively Low

Expected Annual Loss

85.4

Score (0-100)

Social Vulnerability

13.8

Score (0-100)

Community Resilience

89.7

Score (0-100)

Top Hazard Risks

Hurricane92.0Heat Wave88.1Coastal Flood80.6

Hazard	Risk Score
Hurricane	92.0
Heat Wave	88.1
Coastal Flood	80.6
Tornado	71.8
Earthquake	71.1
Wildfire	66.4
Hail	61.4
Lightning	53.8
Ice Storm	46.5
Cold Wave	45.6
Drought	40.3
Winter Weather	36.1
Landslide	29.6
Strong Wind	9.5

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

10 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
Nov 2, 2016	Hurricane	HURRICANE MATTHEW
Oct 29, 2012	Hurricane	HURRICANE SANDY
Sep 3, 2011	Hurricane	HURRICANE IRENE
Aug 26, 2011	Hurricane	HURRICANE IRENE
Dec 9, 2009	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING ASSOCIATED WITH TROPICAL DEPRESSION IDA AND A NOR'EAST
Sep 12, 2005	Hurricane	HURRICANE KATRINA EVACUATION
Sep 18, 2003	Hurricane	HURRICANE ISABEL
Sep 18, 1999	Hurricane	HURRICANE FLOYD MAJOR DISASTER DECLARATIONS
Sep 16, 1999	Hurricane	HURRICANE FLOYD EMERGENCY DECLARATIONS
Sep 4, 1998	Hurricane	HURRICANE BONNIE
Jan 13, 1996	Snowstorm	BLIZZARD OF 96 (SEVERE SNOW STORM)
Mar 25, 1993	Snowstorm	SEVERE WINTER STORM
Jan 26, 1977	Freezing	ICE CONDITIONS
Jun 23, 1972	Flood	TROPICAL STORM AGNES

Individual Assistance

Source: FEMA Housing Assistance

Total IA Registrations

18,997

Total IA Distributed

$15,823,816

Repair/Replace

$3,054,922

Rental Assistance

$2,684,780

Disaster	Registrations	Total IA $	Avg Damage
DR-1544	1	N/A	—
DR-4337	1	N/A	—
DR-4285	1	N/A	—
DR-4673	1	N/A	—
DR-1491	15,397	$6,719,774	$1,314
DR-4512	1,135	$5,987,087	—
DR-4291	2,431	$3,113,168	$1,338
DR-4831	29	$2,140	—
DR-4513	1	$1,647	—

Individual and household assistance for homeowners and renters affected by federally declared disasters.

Flood Insurance (NFIP)

Source: FEMA NFIP

Total Claims

2,634

Total Claims Paid

$27,241,912

Avg Claim Payout

$10,342

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

Hazard Mitigation

Source: FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance

Mitigation Projects

Federal Funding

$11,096,308

Properties Protected

Avg Benefit-Cost Ratio

0.94

BCR

Top Mitigation Project Types

Project Type	Projects	Federal $
200.2: Acquisition of Private Real Property (Structures and Land) - Coastal	10	$8,158,254
100.1: Public Awareness and Education (Brochures, Workshops, Videos, etc.)	5	$9,424
200.2: Acquisition of Private Real Property (Structures and Land) - Coastal; 202.2: Elevation of Private Structures - Coastal	2	$2,367,443
91.1: Local Multihazard Mitigation Plan	2	$234,435
202.2: Elevation of Private Structures - Coastal	2	$313,623

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

Chesapeake has a relatively low overall natural hazard risk rating according to FEMA's National Risk Index. The top hazard risks are hurricane, heat wave, coastal flood. The area has had 18 federal disaster declarations. The most common disaster type is hurricane (10 declarations). 2,634 flood insurance claims have been filed in the area. $15,823,816 has been distributed in individual assistance to disaster-affected residents. 24 hazard mitigation projects have been funded to reduce future risk.