Natural Disasters in Roanoke, VA

Hazard risk, disaster history, and FEMA data

Natural Hazard Risk

Source: FEMA National Risk Index

Risk Score

72.9

Relatively Low

Expected Annual Loss

67.0

Score (0-100)

Social Vulnerability

72.3

Score (0-100)

Community Resilience

51.0

Score (0-100)

Top Hazard Risks

Strong Wind88.9Lightning81.1Earthquake74.7

Hazard	Risk Score
Strong Wind	88.9
Lightning	81.1
Earthquake	74.7
Hurricane	74.6
Winter Weather	73.4
Landslide	62.1
Cold Wave	58.7
Hail	47.2
Ice Storm	36.5
Tornado	33.0
Heat Wave	30.1
Avalanche	18.6
Wildfire	8.5

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

Tropical Storm

Oct 2024

Most Common Type

Hurricane

4 declarations

Date	Type	Declaration
Oct 1, 2024	Tropical Storm	TROPICAL STORM HELENE
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
Oct 29, 2012	Hurricane	HURRICANE SANDY
Jul 27, 2012	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS AND STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS
Feb 16, 2010	Snowstorm	SEVERE WINTER STORM AND SNOWSTORM
Sep 12, 2005	Hurricane	HURRICANE KATRINA EVACUATION
Oct 18, 2004	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING FROM THE REMANANTS OF HURRICANE JEANNE
Mar 27, 2003	Severe Storm	SEVERE WINTER STORM, RECORD/NEAR RECORD SNOWFALL, HEAVY RAIN,FLOODIND, AND MUDSLIDE
Jan 13, 1996	Snowstorm	BLIZZARD OF 96 (SEVERE SNOW STORM)
Jul 1, 1995	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING
Mar 10, 1994	Snowstorm	SEVERE ICE STORMS, FLOODING
Mar 25, 1993	Snowstorm	SEVERE WINTER STORM
May 19, 1992	Flood	SEVERE STORMS & FLOODING
Nov 9, 1985	Flood	SEVERE STORMS & FLOODING
Jun 23, 1972	Flood	TROPICAL STORM AGNES

Individual Assistance

Source: FEMA Housing Assistance

Total IA Registrations

1,663

Total IA Distributed

$7,225,940

Repair/Replace

$835,881

Rental Assistance

$391,469

Disaster	Registrations	Total IA $	Avg Damage
DR-4831	8	N/A	—
DR-1544	4	N/A	—
DR-1491	1	N/A	—
DR-4512	812	$4,397,085	—
DR-1570	625	$1,767,752	$2,704
DR-1458	211	$1,050,104	$1,449
DR-4513	1	$7,058	—
DR-1838	1	$3,942	$3,942

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

Flood Insurance (NFIP)

Source: FEMA NFIP

Total Claims

1,184

Total Claims Paid

$20,196,254

Avg Claim Payout

$17,058

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

Hazard Mitigation

Source: FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance

Mitigation Projects

Federal Funding

$10,391,023

Properties Protected

Avg Benefit-Cost Ratio

2.27

BCR

Top Mitigation Project Types

Project Type	Projects	Federal $
200.1: Acquisition of Private Real Property (Structures and Land) - Riverine	8	$6,719,707
200.1: Acquisition of Private Real Property (Structures and Land) - Riverine; 303.1: Wetland Restoration/Creation	1	$3,671,316

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

Roanoke has a relatively low overall natural hazard risk rating according to FEMA's National Risk Index. The top hazard risks are strong wind, lightning, earthquake. The area has had 18 federal disaster declarations. The most common disaster type is hurricane (4 declarations). 1,184 flood insurance claims have been filed in the area. $7,225,940 has been distributed in individual assistance to disaster-affected residents. 9 hazard mitigation projects have been funded to reduce future risk.