Natural Disasters in Free Union, VA

Hazard risk, disaster history, and FEMA data

Natural Hazard Risk

Source: FEMA National Risk Index

Risk Score

78.1

Relatively Low

Expected Annual Loss

80.0

Score (0-100)

Social Vulnerability

34.0

Score (0-100)

Community Resilience

73.1

Score (0-100)

Top Hazard Risks

Strong Wind90.3Earthquake85.6Landslide83.8

Hazard	Risk Score
Strong Wind	90.3
Earthquake	85.6
Landslide	83.8
Hurricane	82.6
Drought	78.4
Lightning	77.8
Winter Weather	70.2
Heat Wave	69.2
Wildfire	64.3
Ice Storm	54.9
Tornado	52.2
Avalanche	49.4
Hail	48.8
Cold Wave	11.2

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

Hurricane

6 declarations

Date	Type	Declaration
Jan 23, 2026	Winter Storm	SEVERE WINTER STORM
Oct 1, 2024	Tropical Storm	TROPICAL STORM HELENE
Mar 11, 2022	Severe Storm	SEVERE WINTER STORM AND SNOWSTORM
Apr 2, 2020	Biological	COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Mar 13, 2020	Biological	COVID-19
Sep 11, 2018	Hurricane	HURRICANE FLORENCE
Mar 7, 2016	Snowstorm	SEVERE WINTER STORM AND SNOWSTORM
Oct 29, 2012	Hurricane	HURRICANE SANDY
Jul 27, 2012	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS AND STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS
Nov 4, 2011	Earthquake	EARTHQUAKE
Apr 27, 2010	Snowstorm	SEVERE WINTER STORMS AND SNOWSTORMS
Feb 16, 2010	Snowstorm	SEVERE WINTER STORM AND SNOWSTORM
Sep 12, 2005	Hurricane	HURRICANE KATRINA EVACUATION
Sep 18, 2003	Hurricane	HURRICANE ISABEL
Nov 20, 2001	Fire	VA - HEARD MOUNTAIN FIRE COMPLEX - 11/20/2001
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

Showing 20 of 25 declarations

Individual Assistance

Source: FEMA Housing Assistance

Total IA Registrations

443

Total IA Distributed

$1,738,691

Repair/Replace

$184,628

Rental Assistance

$12,818

Disaster	Registrations	Total IA $	Avg Damage
DR-4831	1	N/A	—
DR-4512	261	$1,525,037	—
DR-4042	129	$158,601	$925
DR-1491	51	$54,302	$1,580
DR-4827	1	$750	—

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

Flood Insurance (NFIP)

Source: FEMA NFIP

Total Claims

123

Total Claims Paid

$1,310,114

Avg Claim Payout

$10,651

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

Disaster Recovery Spending

Source: FEMA Public Assistance

Total Federal Spending

$997,686

Disasters with PA

Total Projects

Disaster	Type	Projects	Federal $
DR-4512	Biological	5	$776,486
DR-4072	Severe Storm(s)	9	$148,796
DR-4644	Winter Storm	3	$41,413
DR-4831	Tropical Storm	1	$19,549
DR-1905	Snow	5	$11,442

Hazard Mitigation

Source: FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance

Mitigation Projects

Federal Funding

$58,760

Avg Benefit-Cost Ratio

0.00

BCR

Top Mitigation Project Types

Project Type	Projects	Federal $
91.1: Local Multihazard Mitigation Plan	1	$58,760

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

Free Union has a relatively low overall natural hazard risk rating according to FEMA's National Risk Index. The top hazard risks are strong wind, earthquake, landslide. The area has had 25 federal disaster declarations. The most common disaster type is hurricane (6 declarations). 123 flood insurance claims have been filed in the area. FEMA has obligated $997,686 in public assistance recovery funding. $1,738,691 has been distributed in individual assistance to disaster-affected residents. 1 hazard mitigation projects have been funded to reduce future risk.