Natural Disasters in Pocahontas, VA

Hazard risk, disaster history, and FEMA data

Natural Hazard Risk

Source: FEMA National Risk Index

Risk Score

60.2

Relatively Low

Expected Annual Loss

51.0

Score (0-100)

Social Vulnerability

79.7

Score (0-100)

Community Resilience

20.0

Score (0-100)

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

Disaster History & Federal Spending

Source: FEMA

Total Declarations

25

Public Assistance

$2.2M

Individual Assistance

$10.4M

Most Common Type

Severe Storm

10 declarations

DisasterTypeDatePA $IA $
Severe Winter Storm →Winter StormJan 2026——
Severe Winter Storms and Flooding →Severe StormApr 2025$388K—
Tropical Storm Helene →Tropical StormOct 2024$1.6M$949K
Post-tropical Cyclone Helene →Tropical StormSep 2024——
Flooding and Mudslides →Severe StormSep 2022$23K—
Covid-19 Pandemic →BiologicalApr 2020$19K$44K
Covid-19 →BiologicalMar 2020——
Hurricane Florence →HurricaneSep 2018——
Hurricane Sandy →HurricaneOct 2012——
Severe Storms and Straight-line Winds →Severe StormJul 2012$51K—
Severe Winter Storms and Snowstorms →SnowstormApr 2010$64K—
Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm →SnowstormFeb 2010——
Hurricane Katrina Evacuation →HurricaneSep 2005——
Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding →Severe StormJun 2004—$49K
Severe Storms and Flooding →Severe StormDec 2003—$227K
Severe Winter Storm, Record/near Record Snowfall, Heavy Rain,floodind, and Mudslide →Severe StormMar 2003—$9K
Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding →Severe StormMay 2002——
Severe Storms and Flooding →Severe StormApr 2002——
Severe Storms and Flooding →Severe StormJul 2001——
Severe Winter Storms →Severe StormFeb 2000——

Showing 20 of 38 disasters

PA = FEMA Public Assistance (infrastructure recovery). IA = Individual Assistance (homeowner/renter aid).

Flood Insurance (NFIP)

Source: FEMA NFIP

Total Claims

480

Total Claims Paid

$7,628,425

Avg Claim Payout

$15,893

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

Hazard Mitigation

Source: FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance

Mitigation Projects

18

Federal Funding

$3,187,310

Properties Protected

15

Avg Benefit-Cost Ratio

6.82

BCR

Top Mitigation Project Types

Project TypeProjectsFederal $
200.1: Acquisition of Private Real Property (Structures and Land) - Riverine6$1,282,102
200.3: Acquisition of Public Real Property (Structures and Land) - Riverine4$1,602,981
91.1: Local Multihazard Mitigation Plan3$106,026
91.3: Local Multihazard Mitigation Plan - UPDATE2$166,201
91.5: Local Multijurisdictional Multihazard Mitigation Plan - UPDATE1$30,000

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

Pocahontas has a relatively low overall natural hazard risk rating according to FEMA's National Risk Index. The top hazard risks are landslide, cold wave, avalanche. The area has had 25 federal disaster declarations. The most common disaster type is severe storm (10 declarations). 480 flood insurance claims have been filed in the area. FEMA has obligated $2,190,823 in public assistance recovery funding. $10,359,779 has been distributed in individual assistance to disaster-affected residents. 18 hazard mitigation projects have been funded to reduce future risk.