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

Greensville County Disaster Risk

Greensville County, Virginia

FEMA Risk Rating

Very Low

National Percentile

18th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#85

of 133 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

16th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Very Low

Higher than 16% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Very Low

Higher than 12% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Very Low

Higher than 20% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Very Low

Higher than 41% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 79% of US counties

Risk Overview

About Natural Disaster Risk in Greensville County, Virginia

Greensville County maintains very low risk

Greensville County's composite risk score of 17.78 places it in the "Very Low" category and well below national averages. This southern Virginia county benefits from inland location and distance from major seismic zones.

Lower-risk than Virginia overall

At 17.78, Greensville County scores less than half Virginia's state average of 33.27, ranking among the commonwealth's protected counties. Its southern piedmont geography provides natural hazard buffering.

Safest in surrounding region

Greensville County's 17.78 beats neighboring Halifax County (47.01) by nearly 30 points, establishing it as the region's safest location. This difference reflects coastal hurricane exposure that affects Halifax more substantially.

Hurricanes pose the greatest threat

Hurricane risk (79.31) stands out as Greensville County's primary concern, followed by earthquake risk (40.84) and tornado risk (19.88). Flood (16.19) and wildfire (12.25) risks both remain quite low.

Hurricane preparedness and standard insurance key

Greensville County homeowners should secure comprehensive homeowners insurance and prepare evacuation plans during hurricane season. While hurricane risk is elevated relative to other county hazards, overall risk remains manageable for most properties.

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

Preparedness Guide

What to Prepare for in Greensville County

Top Hazards by Exposure

  1. #1
    HurricanePrepare
    79th percentile
  2. #2
    EarthquakePrepare
    41th percentile
  3. #3
    TornadoPrepare
    20th percentile

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

Local Resources

Risk Advisory: Greensville County

Risk Verdict

At the 18th percentile nationally, Greensville County experiences relatively limited natural hazard pressure compared to most of the country. Greensville County residents can take confidence from a 18th percentile ranking, but even lower-risk counties benefit from a practiced household communication plan and awareness of the specific hazards listed above.

Hazard Breakdown

Hurricane risk is Greensville County's dominant natural hazard, ranked at the 79th percentile nationally under FEMA's National Risk Index. Earthquake ranks second at the 41th percentile nationally. Additional tracked hazards include tornado (20th percentile), flood (16th percentile), wildfire (12th percentile).

Preparedness Context

Greensville County ranks at the 79th percentile nationally for hurricane risk. For coastal counties, wind-resistant shutters or impact-rated windows represent the highest single structural investment for reducing property damage. Earthquake, the county's second-ranked hazard at the 41th percentile nationally, represents an additional preparedness consideration for Greensville County independent of hurricane season. For extended post-storm outages common in Greensville County's hurricane zone, a portable generator (operated outdoors only) and a supply of non-perishable food for at least seven days provides meaningful household resilience.

Regional Context

A composite score 15.5 points below the Virginia state average puts Greensville County in a better-than-typical position relative to neighboring counties.

Is your household prepared for Greensville 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 Greensville County, VA?
Greensville County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Very Low, placing it in the 18th 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 Greensville County?
Greensville County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: hurricane (79th percentile), earthquake (41th percentile), tornado (20th percentile), flooding (16th percentile), wildfire (12th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is hurricane at the 79th 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 Greensville County risk compare to the Virginia average?
Greensville County's composite risk percentile is 18th, compared to the Virginia state average of 33th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Very Low. This means Greensville County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in Virginia.
Is Greensville County at risk for hurricane?
Yes, Greensville County's hurricane risk is at the 79th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Greensville County is at the 16th 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 Greensville County a safe place to live?
Greensville County's composite risk score of 18th 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 79th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Dickenson County

Virginia

+0.2

Very Low

18th percentile

Botetourt County

Virginia

+0.3

Very Low

18th percentile

Charlotte County

Virginia

-0.4

Very Low

17th 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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