riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Southampton County Disaster Risk

Southampton County, Virginia

FEMA Risk Rating

Very Low

National Percentile

30th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#64

of 133 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

30th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Very Low

Higher than 30% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Very Low

Higher than 16% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Very Low

Higher than 23% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Very Low

Higher than 42% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Moderate

Higher than 84% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Southampton County

Risk Verdict

Southampton County has a very low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 30th percentile nationally. This county is among the safer counties in the United States from a natural disaster perspective, though no area is entirely risk-free.

Hazard Breakdown

Hurricane risk is the dominant hazard for Southampton County, scoring in the 84th percentile nationally. It is followed by earthquake risk at the 42th percentile. Additional hazards include flood (30th), tornado (23th), wildfire (16th).

Preparedness Context

With hurricane risk as the top concern, Southampton County residents should know your evacuation route, stockpile supplies for at least 72 hours, and review your homeowners and flood insurance policies annually. Secondary risks such as earthquake 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

Southampton County has a disaster risk profile close to the average county in Virginia. Its composite risk score is within 3.5 points of the state average, meaning its overall hazard exposure is broadly representative of Virginia as a whole.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Southampton County, VA?
Southampton County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Very Low, placing it in the 30th 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 Southampton County?
Southampton County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: hurricane (84th percentile), earthquake (42th percentile), flooding (30th percentile), tornado (23th percentile), wildfire (16th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is hurricane at the 84th 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 Southampton County risk compare to the Virginia average?
Southampton County's composite risk percentile is 30th, compared to the Virginia state average of 33th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Very Low. This means Southampton County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in Virginia.
Is Southampton County at risk for hurricane?
Yes, Southampton County's hurricane risk is at the 84th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Southampton County is at the 30th 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 Southampton County a safe place to live?
Southampton County's composite risk score of 30th 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 84th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Nottoway County

Virginia

-0.8

Very Low

29th percentile

Brunswick County

Virginia

-1.7

Very Low

28th percentile

Warren County

Virginia

+1.8

Very Low

32th 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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