riskbycounty
FEMA NRI 1.19.0Updated Nov 2023 · Coverage 2014–2023Methodology

Amherst County Disaster Risk

Amherst County, Virginia

FEMA Risk Rating

Very Low

National Percentile

21th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#74

of 133 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

42th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Very Low

Higher than 42% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 45% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Very Low

Higher than 22% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 54% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 66% of US counties

Risk Overview

About Natural Disaster Risk in Amherst County, Virginia

Amherst's risk is well below state average

Amherst County's composite risk score of 20.99 rates as very low and falls significantly below Virginia's state average of 33.27. The county's piedmont location provides natural insulation from coastal and seismic extremes.

Very low risk in Virginia's middle tier

Amherst ranks among Virginia's safest 25 percent of counties with a score of 20.99, well removed from the state's higher-risk coastal and urban centers. The county maintains stable low-risk profile across multiple hazard categories.

Slightly elevated compared to nearest peers

Amherst's 20.99 score sits between rural Appomattox (5.09) and Albemarle (78.15), reflecting its piedmont position. The county enjoys similar safety margins to Amelia (11.96), though wildfire risk (45.13) is notably higher.

Wildfire and flood pose manageable risks

Amherst's wildfire risk (45.13) and flood risk (41.57) represent the county's most significant hazard exposures, though both remain moderate. Tornado, earthquake, and hurricane risks all stay well below state averages.

Focus on fire safety and drainage

Maintain defensible space around structures with cleared vegetation to reduce wildfire vulnerability, and ensure proper grading and drainage around foundations. Standard homeowners insurance should cover most local risks.

Source: FEMA National Risk Index · Narrative reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

Preparedness Guide

What to Prepare for in Amherst County

Top Hazards by Exposure

  1. #1
    HurricanePrepare
    66th percentile
  2. #2
    EarthquakePrepare
    54th percentile
  3. #3
    WildfirePrepare
    45th percentile

Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.19.0 · Percentiles are national (3,144 counties)

Local Resources

Risk Advisory: Amherst County

Risk Verdict

Amherst County's natural disaster risk is among the lowest in the country, with a composite score at the 21th percentile nationally. At the 21th percentile nationally, Amherst County's natural hazard profile is comparatively favorable — community resilience is reinforced when individual households maintain a reviewed emergency plan.

Hazard Breakdown

Hurricane risk is Amherst County's dominant natural hazard, ranked at the 66th percentile nationally under FEMA's National Risk Index. Earthquake ranks second at the 54th percentile nationally. Additional tracked hazards include wildfire (45th percentile), flood (42th percentile), tornado (22th percentile).

Preparedness Context

Hurricane risk is Amherst County's top-ranked natural hazard at the 66th percentile nationally. The most time-sensitive preparedness step is knowing the county's evacuation zone for your address — zone maps are published by the county emergency management office. Earthquake, the county's second-ranked hazard at the 54th percentile nationally, represents an additional preparedness consideration for Amherst County independent of hurricane season. Amherst County's county emergency management office publishes official evacuation zone maps with zone-specific shelter locations; downloading this map and identifying your zone assignment is the single highest-value pre-season step.

Regional Context

The Virginia county average exceeds Amherst County's score by 12.3 composite points — placing this county in the lower-risk tier relative to its in-state peers.

Is your household prepared for Amherst County's hazards?

Review FEMA's county-specific preparedness checklists and emergency planning guides.

FEMA Ready Guide →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Amherst County, VA?
Amherst County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Very Low, placing it in the 21th percentile nationally out of 3,144 counties. This composite score reflects the county's overall exposure to natural hazards including floods, wildfires, tornadoes, earthquakes, and hurricanes, weighted by expected annual loss and social vulnerability.
What types of natural hazards affect Amherst County?
Amherst County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: hurricane (66th percentile), earthquake (54th percentile), wildfire (45th percentile), flooding (42th percentile), tornado (22th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is hurricane at the 66th percentile nationally. These scores are derived from FEMA's National Risk Index, which analyzes expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience for each hazard type.
How does Amherst County risk compare to the Virginia average?
Amherst County's composite risk percentile is 21th, compared to the Virginia state average of 33th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Very Low. This means Amherst County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in Virginia.
Is Amherst County at risk for hurricane?
Yes, Amherst County's hurricane risk is at the 66th percentile nationally. This is above the national median. For flooding specifically, Amherst County is at the 42th percentile.
How is natural disaster risk measured?
FEMA's National Risk Index (NRI) calculates risk scores for 18 natural hazard types across all U.S. counties and census tracts. The composite score combines Expected Annual Loss (estimated dollar losses from each hazard), Social Vulnerability (demographic factors affecting disaster impact), and Community Resilience (ability to recover). Percentile scores rank each county against all 3,144 U.S. counties, and risk ratings range from Very Low to Very High.
Is Amherst County a safe place to live?
Amherst County's composite risk score of 21th percentile is below the Virginia state average of 33th percentile, indicating relatively lower exposure to natural hazards. However, no county is completely risk-free. The primary hazard type is hurricane at the 66th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Powhatan County

Virginia

+0.1

Very Low

21th percentile

Patrick County

Virginia

-0.1

Very Low

21th percentile

Caroline County

Virginia

-0.3

Very Low

21th percentile

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

Data Source

Risk data sourced from the FEMA National Risk Index (NRI). Risk scores are relative rankings (0–100) across all US counties — not absolute risk measures. Higher scores indicate higher relative risk compared to other counties.

Disclaimer: This data is informational only. It is not financial, insurance, or legal advice. Always consult a qualified professional before making insurance or real estate decisions.

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