Natural Disasters in Newport News, VA
Hazard risk, disaster history, and FEMA data
Natural Hazard Risk
Source: FEMA National Risk IndexRisk Score
72.2
Relatively Low
Expected Annual Loss
73.9
Score (0-100)
Social Vulnerability
36.2
Score (0-100)
Community Resilience
65.9
Score (0-100)
Top Hazard Risks
| Hazard | Risk Score |
|---|---|
| Hurricane | 88.3 |
| Winter Weather | 85.5 |
| Heat Wave | 83.7 |
| Ice Storm | 80.8 |
| Strong Wind | 78.9 |
| Lightning | 76.4 |
| Earthquake | 76.3 |
| Tornado | 74.1 |
| Cold Wave | 64.6 |
| Hail | 60.6 |
| Coastal Flood | 60.2 |
| Wildfire | 34.6 |
| Landslide | 20.1 |
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 OpenFEMATotal Declarations
21
Most Recent
Winter Storm
Jan 2026
Most Common Type
Hurricane
11 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 |
| Oct 15, 2018 | Hurricane | HURRICANE FLORENCE |
| 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 22, 2006 | Severe Storm | TROPICAL DEPRESSION ERNESTO, SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING |
| Sep 12, 2005 | Hurricane | HURRICANE KATRINA EVACUATION |
| Sep 18, 2003 | Hurricane | HURRICANE ISABEL |
| Feb 28, 2000 | Severe Storm | SEVERE WINTER STORMS |
| Sep 18, 1999 | Hurricane | HURRICANE FLOYD MAJOR DISASTER DECLARATIONS |
| Sep 16, 1999 | Hurricane | HURRICANE FLOYD EMERGENCY DECLARATIONS |
| Sep 6, 1996 | Hurricane | HURRICANE FRAN AND ASSOCIATED SEVERE STORM COND |
| Jan 13, 1996 | Snowstorm | BLIZZARD OF 96 (SEVERE SNOW STORM) |
| Mar 25, 1993 | Snowstorm | SEVERE WINTER STORM |
| Jan 26, 1977 | Freezing | ICE CONDITIONS |
Showing 20 of 21 declarations
Flood Insurance (NFIP)
Source: FEMA NFIPTotal Claims
1,064
Total Claims Paid
$23,923,940
Avg Claim Payout
$22,485
County-level NFIP data from FEMA National Flood Insurance Program.
Hazard Mitigation
Source: FEMA Hazard Mitigation AssistanceMitigation Projects
6
Federal Funding
$662,455
Properties Protected
10
Avg Benefit-Cost Ratio
0.96
BCR
Top Mitigation Project Types
| Project Type | Projects | Federal $ |
|---|---|---|
| 200.1: Acquisition of Private Real Property (Structures and Land) - Riverine | 2 | $228,768 |
| 200.4: Acquisition of Public Real Property (Structures and Land) - Coastal | 1 | $231,882 |
| 91.1: Local Multihazard Mitigation Plan | 1 | $71,798 |
| 601.1: Generators | 1 | $130,007 |
| 200.2: Acquisition of Private Real Property (Structures and Land) - Coastal | 1 | $0 |
Federally funded projects to reduce future disaster risk. Only includes completed or obligated projects.
Newport News has a relatively low overall natural hazard risk rating according to FEMA's National Risk Index. The top hazard risks are hurricane, winter weather, heat wave. The area has had 21 federal disaster declarations. The most common disaster type is hurricane (11 declarations). 1,064 flood insurance claims have been filed in the area. 6 hazard mitigation projects have been funded to reduce future risk.