Natural Disasters in Sussex, VA
Hazard risk, disaster history, and FEMA data
Natural Hazard Risk
Source: FEMA National Risk IndexRisk Score
13.2
Very Low
Expected Annual Loss
9.0
Score (0-100)
Social Vulnerability
77.1
Score (0-100)
Community Resilience
41.2
Score (0-100)
Top Hazard Risks
| Hazard | Risk Score |
|---|---|
| Drought | 88.5 |
| Hurricane | 73.3 |
| Earthquake | 43.5 |
| Winter Weather | 34.3 |
| Heat Wave | 32.9 |
| Ice Storm | 29.0 |
| Hail | 24.7 |
| Strong Wind | 21.0 |
| Tornado | 20.8 |
| Wildfire | 19.9 |
| Cold Wave | 15.9 |
| Lightning | 13.0 |
| Landslide | 11.0 |
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
18
Most Recent
Winter Storm
Jan 2026
Most Common Type
Hurricane
8 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 |
| Sep 11, 2018 | Hurricane | HURRICANE FLORENCE |
| Oct 29, 2012 | Hurricane | HURRICANE SANDY |
| Sep 3, 2011 | Hurricane | HURRICANE IRENE |
| Aug 26, 2011 | Hurricane | HURRICANE IRENE |
| 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 |
| Jan 13, 1996 | Snowstorm | BLIZZARD OF 96 (SEVERE SNOW STORM) |
| Mar 10, 1994 | Snowstorm | SEVERE ICE STORMS, FLOODING |
| Mar 25, 1993 | Snowstorm | SEVERE WINTER STORM |
| Jul 23, 1977 | Drought | DROUGHT |
| Oct 10, 1972 | Flood | SEVERE STORMS & FLOODING |
Individual Assistance
Source: FEMA Housing AssistanceTotal IA Registrations
215
Total IA Distributed
$149,870
Repair/Replace
$58,515
Rental Assistance
$12,715
| Disaster | Registrations | Total IA $ | Avg Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| DR-1491 | 209 | $117,081 | $2,068 |
| DR-4512 | 6 | $32,790 | — |
Individual and household assistance for homeowners and renters affected by federally declared disasters.
Flood Insurance (NFIP)
Source: FEMA NFIPTotal Claims
34
Total Claims Paid
$143,529
Avg Claim Payout
$4,221
County-level NFIP data from FEMA National Flood Insurance Program.
Disaster Recovery Spending
Source: FEMA Public AssistanceTotal Federal Spending
$446,263
Disasters with PA
3
Total Projects
25
| Disaster | Type | Projects | Federal $ |
|---|---|---|---|
| DR-1293 | Hurricane | 22 | $320,880 |
| DR-4602 | Winter Storm | 2 | $124,144 |
| DR-4024 | Hurricane | 1 | $1,239 |
Hazard Mitigation
Source: FEMA Hazard Mitigation AssistanceMitigation Projects
4
Federal Funding
$442,500
Avg Benefit-Cost Ratio
0.00
BCR
Top Mitigation Project Types
| Project Type | Projects | Federal $ |
|---|---|---|
| 91.1: Local Multihazard Mitigation Plan | 2 | $255,000 |
| 91.5: Local Multijurisdictional Multihazard Mitigation Plan - UPDATE | 1 | $187,500 |
| 100.1: Public Awareness and Education (Brochures, Workshops, Videos, etc.) | 1 | $0 |
Federally funded projects to reduce future disaster risk. Only includes completed or obligated projects.
Sussex has a very low overall natural hazard risk rating according to FEMA's National Risk Index. The top hazard risks are drought, hurricane, earthquake. The area has had 18 federal disaster declarations. The most common disaster type is hurricane (8 declarations). 34 flood insurance claims have been filed in the area. FEMA has obligated $446,263 in public assistance recovery funding. $149,870 has been distributed in individual assistance to disaster-affected residents. 4 hazard mitigation projects have been funded to reduce future risk.