Natural Disasters in Poquoson, VA

Hazard risk, disaster history, and FEMA data

Natural Hazard Risk

Source: FEMA National Risk Index

Risk Score

2.4

Very Low

Expected Annual Loss

10.6

Score (0-100)

Social Vulnerability

10.6

Score (0-100)

Community Resilience

99.3

Score (0-100)

Top Hazard Risks

Coastal Flood62.4Hurricane60.5Earthquake23.9
HazardRisk Score
Coastal Flood62.4
Hurricane60.5
Earthquake23.9
Heat Wave21.6
Ice Storm18.3
Wildfire17.4
Tornado13.0
Lightning9.4
Cold Wave8.6
Strong Wind6.0
Hail5.2
Winter Weather2.6
Landslide0.2

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

18

Most Recent

Winter Storm

Jan 2026

Most Common Type

Hurricane

9 declarations

DateTypeDeclaration
Jan 23, 2026Winter StormSEVERE WINTER STORM
Apr 2, 2020BiologicalCOVID-19 PANDEMIC
Mar 13, 2020BiologicalCOVID-19
Sep 11, 2018HurricaneHURRICANE FLORENCE
Oct 29, 2012HurricaneHURRICANE SANDY
Sep 3, 2011HurricaneHURRICANE IRENE
Aug 26, 2011HurricaneHURRICANE IRENE
Dec 9, 2009Severe StormSEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING ASSOCIATED WITH TROPICAL DEPRESSION IDA AND A NOR'EAST
Sep 22, 2006Severe StormTROPICAL DEPRESSION ERNESTO, SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING
Sep 12, 2005HurricaneHURRICANE KATRINA EVACUATION
Sep 18, 2003HurricaneHURRICANE ISABEL
Sep 18, 1999HurricaneHURRICANE FLOYD MAJOR DISASTER DECLARATIONS
Sep 16, 1999HurricaneHURRICANE FLOYD EMERGENCY DECLARATIONS
Sep 6, 1996HurricaneHURRICANE FRAN AND ASSOCIATED SEVERE STORM COND
Jan 13, 1996SnowstormBLIZZARD OF 96 (SEVERE SNOW STORM)
Mar 25, 1993SnowstormSEVERE WINTER STORM
Nov 9, 1985FloodSEVERE STORMS & FLOODING
Jan 26, 1977FreezingICE CONDITIONS

Individual Assistance

Source: FEMA Housing Assistance

Total IA Registrations

12,748

Total IA Distributed

$14,771,422

Repair/Replace

$4,071,260

Rental Assistance

$4,182,272

DisasterRegistrationsTotal IA $Avg Damage
DR-483112N/A
DR-15441N/A
DR-149112,294$13,353,883$4,380
DR-4512223$1,135,657
DR-4291218$281,882$872

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

Flood Insurance (NFIP)

Source: FEMA NFIP

Total Claims

4,290

Total Claims Paid

$72,893,352

Avg Claim Payout

$16,991

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

Hazard Mitigation

Source: FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance

Mitigation Projects

12

Federal Funding

$4,394,445

Properties Protected

61

Avg Benefit-Cost Ratio

0.75

BCR

Top Mitigation Project Types

Project TypeProjectsFederal $
202.2: Elevation of Private Structures - Coastal5$3,569,274
200.2: Acquisition of Private Real Property (Structures and Land) - Coastal3$103,301
601.1: Generators1$119,962
91.1: Local Multihazard Mitigation Plan; 95.1: FMA or CRS Plan1$24,624
202.1: Elevation of Private Structures - Riverine1$554,436

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

Poquoson has a very low overall natural hazard risk rating according to FEMA's National Risk Index. The top hazard risks are coastal flood, hurricane, earthquake. The area has had 18 federal disaster declarations. The most common disaster type is hurricane (9 declarations). 4,290 flood insurance claims have been filed in the area. $14,771,422 has been distributed in individual assistance to disaster-affected residents. 12 hazard mitigation projects have been funded to reduce future risk.