riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Buchanan County Disaster Risk

Buchanan County, Virginia

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Low

National Percentile

51th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#35

of 133 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

70th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 70% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 72% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Very Low

Higher than 10% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 48% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 46% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Buchanan County

Risk Verdict

Buchanan County shows a relatively low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 51th percentile nationally. The county faces moderate hazard exposure relative to other U.S. counties. Standard emergency preparedness is recommended, with attention to the specific hazards that dominate locally.

Hazard Breakdown

Wildfire risk is the dominant hazard for Buchanan County, scoring in the 72th percentile nationally. It is followed by flood risk at the 70th percentile. Additional hazards include earthquake (48th), hurricane (46th), tornado (10th).

Preparedness Context

With wildfire risk as the top concern, Buchanan County residents should create defensible space around your property, sign up for local emergency alerts, and prepare a go-bag with essential documents and medications. Secondary risks such as flood also warrant attention in household and community preparedness planning. FEMA recommends all households maintain at least 72 hours of food, water, and medication supplies regardless of specific hazard exposure.

Regional Context

Buchanan County is significantly riskier than the average county in Virginia. Its composite risk score is 17.3 points higher than the state average, meaning residents face above-average exposure to natural hazards compared to their neighbors.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Buchanan County, VA?
Buchanan County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Low, placing it in the 51th 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 Buchanan County?
Buchanan County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: wildfire (72th percentile), flooding (70th percentile), earthquake (48th percentile), hurricane (46th percentile), tornado (10th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is wildfire at the 72th 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 Buchanan County risk compare to the Virginia average?
Buchanan County's composite risk percentile is 51th, compared to the Virginia state average of 33th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Very Low. This means Buchanan County faces higher natural disaster risk than the typical county in Virginia.
Is Buchanan County at risk for wildfire?
Yes, Buchanan County's wildfire risk is at the 72th percentile nationally. This is above the national median. For flooding specifically, Buchanan County is at the 70th 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.
Why is Buchanan County higher risk than average?
Buchanan County's composite risk score of 51th percentile is above the Virginia state average of 33th percentile. This elevated risk is driven by wildfire exposure (72th percentile), along with flooding risk. Geographic location, terrain, climate patterns, and proximity to flood zones or fault lines all influence a county's risk profile.

Counties with Similar Risk

Wise County

Virginia

-0.2

Relatively Low

50th percentile

Bedford County

Virginia

+0.6

Relatively Low

51th percentile

Lynchburg city

Virginia

-1.3

Relatively Low

49th percentile

By Logan Johnson, Founder & Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Logan Johnson, Founder & 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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