Hazard Plain Automated baseline

Middlesex County, VA

Risk-assessment baseline packet

County FIPS:
51119
Release:
2026-10
Data as of:
2026-09-30
Storm Events data through:
2026-06-30

Hazard Plain is an independent product built from public federal data. It is not a FEMA document and is not reviewed or endorsed by FEMA or any state agency.

Hazard Plain release 2026-10, as of 2026-09-30.

Summary

Plan status as of 2026-09-30: Approved, expires 2027-04-11. Plan: PDC 18 Middle Peninsula Hazard Mitigation Plan (FEMA plan 108207), approved 2022-04-12.

Update: FEMA tracker shows a plan in progress.

Since the plan was approved on 2022-04-12: 1 new hazard declaration (1 incident) and 26 NOAA Storm Events records; details under "What changed since your last plan".

Highest expected annual loss (FEMA National Risk Index, modeled total; see B1-a): Hurricane ($2,985,767 a year), Inland Flooding ($1,060,878) and Drought ($606,143).

The tables that follow are organized by the items of FEMA's Local Mitigation Plan Review Tool, Element B (B1-a to B2-c); each heading says which item its tables support.

Plan clock

Status:
Approved, expires 2027-04-11
Plan:
PDC 18 Middle Peninsula Hazard Mitigation Plan (FEMA plan 108207)
Approved:
2022-04-12
Days to expiry:
193
Update underway:
FEMA tracker shows a plan in progress

What changed since your last plan (approved 2022-04-12)

New federal declarations:
1 new hazard declaration (1 incident): EM-3631-VA (Severe Winter Storm)
Storm Events records since approval:
26 records (data through 2026-06-30)
Repetitive loss now:
FMA RL 2, SRL 2 (44 CFR 77.2); any definition: 36
Repeat-flood change:
this release sets the baseline count.

Sources: 1, 2, 4, 6 (numbered list at the end)

Plan status for every jurisdiction listed in this county

Source: 1

JurisdictionTypeStatusPlanApprovedExpiresDays to expirynegative = days since expiryUpdate underwayNotes
Middlesex CountyCountyApproved, expires 2027-04-11PDC 18 Middle Peninsula Hazard Mitigation Plan (FEMA plan 108207)2022-04-122027-04-11193FEMA tracker shows a plan in progressthis jurisdiction approved 2022-05-03
Urbanna townTownApproved, expires 2027-04-11PDC 18 Middle Peninsula Hazard Mitigation Plan (FEMA plan 108207)2022-04-122027-04-11193FEMA tracker shows a plan in progressthis jurisdiction approved 2022-05-14
Middle Peninsula Planning District CommissionRegional Planning AgencyApproved, expires 2027-04-11PDC 18 Middle Peninsula Hazard Mitigation Plan (FEMA plan 108207)2022-04-122027-04-11193FEMA tracker shows a plan in progressthis jurisdiction approved 2022-05-23

Plan 108207 covers 10 other participants, named in the Excel file.

State plan status and tribal plans in this state: see the state page.

Supports FEMA checklist item B1-a: hazard identification

Hazards NRI does not cover (local data needed)

  • dam failure (incl. upstream dams)
  • levee failure
  • flash flood as its own subtype
  • ice jams
  • debris flows
  • erosion (riverine and coastal)
  • land subsidence and sinkholes
  • expansive soils

The 18 National Risk Index hazards, ranked by expected annual loss (EAL)

Sources: 5, 6

Rank by EALHazardNRI risk ratingEAL ratingEAL buildingsmodeled dollars per yearEAL agriculturemodeled dollars per yearCost of expected deaths and injuriesFEMA's dollar value per year, not property damageEAL total (see note)modeled dollars per yearStorm Events records, 1996 to 2026-06-30countStorm Events coverage note
1HurricaneRelatively ModerateRelatively Moderate$2,870,030$74,798$40,939$2,985,7678
2Inland FloodingVery LowVery Low$1,056,615$212$4,051$1,060,87810
3DroughtRelatively ModerateRelatively Moderaten/a$606,143n/a$606,1432
4Coastal FloodingRelatively LowRelatively Low$280,770n/a$6,652$287,42211
5Strong WindRelatively LowRelatively Low$198,753$497$76,931$276,18173Includes 4 High Wind and 1 Strong Wind records (NOAA non-thunderstorm wind types, outside NRI's Strong Wind definition).
6TornadoVery LowVery Low$128,950$233$98,585$227,7688
7Cold WaveVery LowRelatively Low$1,735$6,047$155,261$163,0422Includes 2 Frost/Freeze records (outside NRI's Cold Wave definition; counted in this table and in B1-d, not in the B1-e descriptor).
8EarthquakeVery LowVery Low$77,208n/a$13,652$90,860Storm Events does not record earthquakes.
9Heat WaveVery LowVery Low$13$12$88,747$88,7725
10Ice StormRelatively LowRelatively Low$47,425n/a$302$47,7272
11HailVery LowVery Low$17,466$13,170$7,440$38,07515
12LightningVery LowVery Low$16,390n/a$21,514$37,9043
13WildfireVery LowVery Low$10,621$2$676$11,2990No recorded events in Storm Events since 1996 (data through 2026-06-30).
14Winter WeatherVery LowVery Low$770$3$5,547$6,32073
15LandslideVery LowVery Low$175n/a$10$1850No recorded events in Storm Events since 1996 (data through 2026-06-30).
TsunamiInsufficient DataInsufficient Datan/an/an/an/a0No recorded events in Storm Events since 1996 (data through 2026-06-30).

Total = buildings + agriculture + population equivalence; FEMA values each expected death (or 10 injuries) at $13.7 million (2024 dollars).

NRI risk rating combines expected annual loss with social vulnerability and community resilience; EAL rating rates expected annual loss alone. Both compare this county with all U.S. counties.

Local data needed: state and local wildfire, landslide and tsunami records (Storm Events records these hazards only in part).

Not applicable to this county per NRI, with no federal declaration and no Storm Events record since 1996: avalanche and volcanic activity. That is the evidence for leaving them out of the plan.

The state hazard mitigation plan also lists hazards for this county; FEMA asks the plan to explain any hazard it leaves out.

Supports FEMA checklist item B1-b: hazard location

Affects the whole county (national data give no location within it): Cold Wave, Drought, Hail, Heat Wave, Ice Storm, Lightning, Strong Wind and Winter Weather.

Coastal Flooding and Inland Flooding: The FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) is the required location source for flooding. See the FEMA Flood Map Service Center (https://msc.fema.gov) for this county.

Hazards that vary within the county: highest-rated census tracts

Source: 5

HazardHighest-rated census tractsNRI risk rating, score 0 to 100
Earthquaketract 9510 (Relatively Low, 56.6); tract 9511 (Relatively Low, 53.7); tract 9512 (Relatively Low, 41.9)
Hurricanetract 9511 (Relatively High, 95.7); tract 9510 (Relatively High, 95.2); tract 9512 (Relatively High, 94.3)
Landslidetract 9510 (Relatively Low, 81.9); tract 9509 (Very Low, 76.5); tract 9511 (Very Low, 75.7)
Tornadotract 9510 (Relatively Moderate, 58.2); tract 9511 (Relatively Moderate, 54.4); tract 9512 (Relatively Low, 52.1)
Tsunamino tract has a National Risk Index rating for this hazard
Wildfiretract 9511 (Relatively Low, 81.8); tract 9510 (Relatively Low, 75.1); tract 9512 (Relatively Low, 73.2)

Up to 3 census tracts per hazard, highest National Risk Index rating first, then highest score; a tract number is the Census tract number (for example 9510 is Census Tract 9510). FEMA's Resilience Analysis and Planning Tool maps the National Risk Index for every tract: https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/practitioners/resilience-analysis-and-planning-tool

Supports FEMA checklist item B1-c: hazard extent

Extent: scale, observed range and worst recorded event per hazard

Sources: 6, 7

HazardScaleRecordscount and yearsObserved rangeWorst recorded eventMost damaging (when different)How it applies to jurisdictionsNote
Coastal Flood, Storm Surge/Tidenone in data (flood depth: FIRM)11 records, 2006 to 2025 (11 zone-level)Coastal Flood, 2006-09-01, $9,000,000 property; crops not reported (2006 dollars); NWS zone VAZ085Countywide (zone-level records).Flood depth: see the FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map.
Cold/Wind Chill, Extreme Cold/Wind Chillwind chill0
Frost/Freeze (outside NRI's Cold Wave definition)crop damage2 records, 2003 to 2016 (2 zone-level)No crop damage reported in 2 records.Countywide (zone-level records).
DroughtU.S. Drought Monitor scale (D0 to D4)2 records, 1998 (2 zone-level)61 days; 1 with a recorded value61 days (2 months), 1998-10-01 to 1998-11-30, a run of 2 consecutive Storm Events drought records, zone-levelDrought, 1998-11-01, property not reported; $1,000,000 crops (zone total, 1998 dollars)Countywide (zone-level records).Storm Events enters a drought at D2 or worse east of the Rockies and D3 or worse from the Rockies west (NWS Instruction 10-1605); NRI drought counts D3 and D4 only.
EarthquakeModified Mercalli (local data)0Storm Events does not record earthquakes; the USGS earthquake catalog is the source.
Hailhail size (inches)18 records, 1990 to 20250.75 in to 1.75 in (median 1 in); 18 with a recorded value1.75 in hail, 2008-06-07; same size also recorded on 1997-07-16, 2003-05-08, 2003-08-26Event records naming jurisdictions in the plan: Urbanna town (2 records).
Excessive Heat, Heatheat index (in event narratives)5 records, 1996 to 2025 (5 zone-level)1 day to 4 days (median 3 days); 5 with a recorded value4 consecutive days, 2012-07-05 to 2012-07-08, zone-levelCountywide (zone-level records).
Hurricane, Tropical Storm, Tropical DepressionSaffir-Simpson8 records, 1999 to 2023 (8 zone-level)Strongest recorded: Hurricane record (NOAA event type 'Hurricane (Typhoon)'), 2003-09-18 to 2003-09-19, $14,000,000 property; $2,000,000 crops (2003 dollars); NWS zone VAZ085Countywide (zone-level records).Storm Events files every zone of a storm's episode under the storm's type; flooding from the storm is filed as Flood or Flash Flood records.
Ice StormSperry-Piltz ice scale (local data)2 records, 1998 to 2021 (2 zone-level)Ice Storm, 2021-02-13, $50,000 property; $0 crops (2021 dollars); NWS zone VAZ085Countywide (zone-level records).
Flash Flood, Flood, Lakeshore Flooddamage and flood days (flood depth: FIRM)10 records, 1996 to 2018No damage reported in 10 records.Event records naming jurisdictions in the plan: Urbanna town (1 record).Flood depth: see the FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map. Storm Events damage is often $0 or blank for floods, major ones included; FEMA Public Assistance by declaration (B1-d) shows which floods cost the most.
Debris Flownone (count and damage only)0
Lightningannualized frequency (the measure FEMA's Local Mitigation Planning Handbook names)3 records, 1996 to 2010Lightning, 1996-07-18, $200,000 property; crops not reported (1996 dollars)No event record names a jurisdiction in the plan.Storm Events lists lightning with damage or casualties.
High Wind and Strong Wind (outside NRI's Strong Wind definition)wind speed (kt and mph)5 records, 1996 to 2018 (5 zone-level)35 kt (40 mph) to 50 kt (58 mph) (median 45 kt (52 mph)); 4 with a recorded value50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust, High Wind, 2018-10-11; same speed and measurement basis also recorded on 2018-03-02; NWS zone VAZ085High Wind, 2006-09-01, $5,000,000 property; crops not reported (zone total, 2006 dollars)Countywide (zone-level records).
Thunderstorm Windwind speed (kt and mph)84 records, 1976 to 202550 kt (58 mph) to 100 kt (115 mph) (median 50 kt (58 mph)); 62 with a recorded value100 kt (115 mph), measurement type not recorded, Thunderstorm Wind, 1989-05-02, 3 direct injuriesThunderstorm Wind, 2014-05-22, $200,000 property; $0 crops (2014 dollars)Event records naming jurisdictions in the plan: Urbanna town (5 records).
TornadoEnhanced Fujita (Fujita before Feb 2007)11 records, 1976 to 2025F/EF0 to F/EF3 (median F/EF1); 11 with a recorded valueF3 tornado, 1993-08-06, 2.9 mi path length (whole path, pre-1996), 100 yd wide, $50,000 property; crops not recorded (1993 dollars)Tornado, 2011-04-16, $6,000,000 property; $0 crops (2011 dollars)Event records naming jurisdictions in the plan: Urbanna town (1 record).Before 1996 a tornado is listed once, under the county where it began, with its whole path's rating and length; from 1996 on, each county lists its own segment. Length is not used to rank tornadoes (see Methods).
Tsunaminone (count and damage only)0
Wildfireacres burned (local data)0
Winter Storm, Heavy Snow, Blizzard, Lake-Effect Snow, Winter Weather, Sleetnone in data (snowfall: local data)73 records, 1996 to 2025 (73 zone-level)Winter Storm, 1996-01-06, $25,000 property; crops not reported (1996 dollars); NWS zone VAZ085Countywide (zone-level records).

In event narratives only (local data needed): wind chill, temperature, heat index, ice thickness, acres burned and snow depth; any physical measure of debris flow, lightning and tsunami.

Storm Events records are more complete after 1996; before 1996 only Tornado (from 1950), Hail and Thunderstorm Wind (from 1955) exist. Zone-level records from zones that no NWS zone-county file places in this county (mostly before 2020) are not counted here (the Methods page explains the zone matching).

Dollars are nominal (as reported), labeled with the year; not adjusted for inflation.

Supports FEMA checklist item B1-d: previous occurrences

Federal declarations for this county: 24 declarations covering 18 separate hazard incidents counted in this packet (declarations for the same incident count once; non-natural and evacuation-only declarations are not counted).

Federal disaster declarations for this county

Sources: 1, 2, 3

DeclaredIncident beganFEMA numberTypeTitleMapped hazardCounty Public Assistancefederal share obligated, nominal dollarsFlagsNotes
2026-01-232026-01-22EM-3631-VAEmergencySevere Winter StormWinter Weatherno Public Assistance recordednew since last plan; within last 5 years
2021-05-102021-02-11DR-4602-VAMajor disasterSevere Winter StormsIce Stormno Public Assistance recordedin the 12 months before plan approval
2020-04-022020-01-20DR-4512-VAMajor disasterCOVID-19 PandemicNon-natural, not counted$206,075.95
2020-03-132020-01-20EM-3448-VAEmergencyCOVID-19Non-natural, not countedno Public Assistance recordedsame incident as DR-4512
2018-12-182018-10-09DR-4411-VAMajor disasterTropical Storm MichaelHurricaneno Public Assistance recorded
2018-09-112018-09-13EM-3403-VAEmergencyHurricane FlorenceHurricaneno Public Assistance recorded
2012-11-262012-10-26DR-4092-VAMajor disasterHurricane SandyHurricane$5,734.41
2012-10-292012-10-26EM-3359-VAEmergencyHurricane SandyHurricaneno Public Assistance recordedsame incident as DR-4092
2011-09-032011-08-26DR-4024-VAMajor disasterHurricane IreneHurricane$34,220
2011-08-262011-08-26EM-3329-VAEmergencyHurricane IreneHurricaneno Public Assistance recordedsame incident as DR-4024
2006-09-222006-08-29DR-1661-VAMajor disasterTropical Depression Ernesto, Severe Storms and FloodingHurricane; Inland Flooding$40,500.22
2005-09-122005-08-29EM-3240-VAEmergencyHurricane Katrina EvacuationHurricane: evacuation support, not a local hazard event; not countedno Public Assistance recorded
2003-09-182003-09-18DR-1491-VAMajor disasterHurricane IsabelHurricane$387,315.05
2000-02-282000-01-25DR-1318-VAMajor disasterSevere Winter StormsWinter Weatherno Public Assistance recorded
1999-09-181999-09-13DR-1293-VAMajor disasterHurricane Floyd Major Disaster DeclarationsHurricane$4,630.87
1999-09-161999-09-13EM-3147-VAEmergencyHurricane Floyd Emergency DeclarationsHurricaneno Public Assistance recordedsame incident as DR-1293
1996-09-061996-09-05DR-1135-VAMajor disasterHurricane Fran and Associated Severe Storm CondHurricanePA not declared for this county
1996-01-131996-01-06DR-1086-VAMajor disasterBlizzard of 96 (Severe Snow Storm)Winter Weatherno Public Assistance recorded
1994-03-101994-02-08DR-1014-VAMajor disasterSevere Ice Storms, FloodingWinter Weather (primary); also designated: Inland Floodingno Public Assistance recorded
1993-03-251993-03-13EM-3112-VAEmergencySevere Winter StormWinter Weatherno Public Assistance recorded
1985-11-091985-11-09DR-755-VAMajor disasterSevere Storms & FloodingInland FloodingPA not declared for this county
1977-07-231977-07-23EM-3046-VAEmergencyDroughtDroughtno Public Assistance recorded
1977-01-261977-01-26DR-525-VAMajor disasterIce ConditionsCold WavePA not declared for this county
1972-06-231972-06-23DR-339-VAMajor disasterTropical Storm AgnesInland Flooding (primary); also designated: Hurricaneno Public Assistance recorded

County Public Assistance: applicants the FEMA record places in this county, including any state agencies FEMA files there; statewide rows are listed on the state page; federal share obligated, nominal dollars.

Statewide declarations

Source: 2

DeclaredIncident beganFEMA numberTypeTitleMapped hazard
1963-03-211963-03-21DR-149-VAMajor disasterFloodsInland Flooding
1962-03-091962-03-09DR-123-VAMajor disasterSevere Storms, High Tides & FloodingInland Flooding (primary); also designated: Coastal Flooding
1957-02-011957-02-01DR-68-VAMajor disasterFloodsInland Flooding

FEMA recorded these with designated area Statewide and no county, so they are listed on every county page in the state and not counted with county rows. Local data needed: whether each one affected this county.

Previous occurrences by hazard, with explicit no-event rows

Sources: 2, 6, 7

HazardStorm Events records, all years on file(years in the Period column)Since plan approvalrecordsIn the 12 months before plan approvalrecordsLast 5 yearsrecordsDeclared incidents, all yearsseparate disastersDeclared since approvalseparate disastersPeriodStatement
Coastal Flooding11505001996 to 2026-06-30
Cold Wave2000101996 to 2026-06-30Includes 2 Frost/Freeze records.
Drought2000101996 to 2026-06-30
Earthquake000000Storm Events does not record earthquakes; the USGS earthquake catalog is the source.
Hail18202001955 to 2026-06-30
Heat Wave5202001996 to 2026-06-30
Hurricane8111901996 to 2026-06-30
Ice Storm2000101996 to 2026-06-30
Inland Flooding10000401996 to 2026-06-30
Landslide0000001996 to 2026-06-30No recorded events, 1996 to 2026-06-30, NOAA NCEI Storm Events
Lightning3000001996 to 2026-06-30
Strong Wind8912312001955 to 2026-06-30Includes 4 High Wind and 1 Strong Wind records.
Tornado11101001950 to 2026-06-30
Tsunami0000001996 to 2026-06-30No recorded events, 1996 to 2026-06-30, NOAA NCEI Storm Events
Wildfire0000001996 to 2026-06-30No recorded events, 1996 to 2026-06-30, NOAA NCEI Storm Events
Winter Weather73336511996 to 2026-06-30

Notable Storm Events records

Sources: 1, 6, 7

DateEvent typeMagnitude or extentDamagenominal dollarsDeaths, injuriesdirect onlyLocationWhy listed
2021-02-13Ice Storm$50,000 property; $0 crops (zone total, 2021 dollars)0, 0NWS zone VAZ085 (MIDDLESEX), zone-levelB1-c worst recorded: Ice Storm
2018-10-11High Wind50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust$5,000 property; $0 crops (zone total, 2018 dollars)0, 0NWS zone VAZ085 (MIDDLESEX), zone-levelB1-c worst recorded: High Wind and Strong Wind
2012-07-05Heat$0 property; $0 crops (zone total, 2012 dollars)0, 0NWS zone VAZ085 (MIDDLESEX), zone-levelB1-c worst recorded: Excessive Heat, Heat
2008-06-07Hail1.75 in$0 property; $0 crops (2008 dollars)0, 0REMLIKB1-c worst recorded: Hail
2006-09-01Coastal Flood$9,000,000 property; crops not reported (zone total, 2006 dollars)0, 0NWS zone VAZ085 (MIDDLESEX), zone-levelB1-c worst recorded: Coastal Flood, Storm Surge/Tide
2003-09-18Hurricane (NOAA event type 'Hurricane (Typhoon)')$14,000,000 property; $2,000,000 crops (zone total, 2003 dollars)0, 0NWS zone VAZ085 (MIDDLESEX), zone-levelB1-c worst recorded: Hurricane, Tropical Storm, Tropical Depression
1998-10-01Droughtproperty not reported; $1,000,000 crops (zone total, 1998 dollars)0, 0NWS zone VAZ085 (MIDDLESEX), zone-levelB1-c worst recorded: Drought
1996-07-18Lightning$200,000 property; crops not reported (1996 dollars)0, 0DELTAVILLEB1-c worst recorded: Lightning
1996-01-06Winter Storm$25,000 property; crops not reported (zone total, 1996 dollars)0, 0NWS zone VAZ085 (MIDDLESEX), zone-levelB1-c worst recorded: Winter Storm, Heavy Snow, Blizzard, Lake-Effect Snow, Winter Weather, Sleet
1995-11-11Thunderstorm Windspeed not recorded$50,000 property; crops not recorded (1995 dollars)0, 2Near Hartfielddeaths or injuries recorded
1993-08-06TornadoF3, 2.9 mi path length (whole path, pre-1996), 100 yd wide$50,000 property; crops not recorded (1993 dollars)0, 0UrbannaB1-c worst recorded: Tornado
1989-05-02Thunderstorm Wind100 kt (115 mph), measurement type not recordeddamage not recorded (pre-1996 record)0, 3location not recordeddeaths or injuries recorded

The full list is in the Excel file, sheet "B1-d Storm Events history" (234 rows).

Location is the place NOAA recorded, as written in its data; it need not be a jurisdiction in this plan.

Local data needed: state-declared emergencies, from your state emergency management agency (federal data do not include them).

Tribal and special-area declarations in this state are listed on the state page.

Supports FEMA checklist item B1-e: probability of future events

Probability: FEMA annualized frequency and descriptor per hazard

Sources: 5, 6

HazardFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)unit per rowUnitIn plain termsDescriptorDescriptor basisNRI events or days in its record period (hail, wind and tornado are area-weighted, so can be fractional)NRI periodLocationNote
Coastal Flooding3.69events per year at a location (modeled)about 3.7 per year at a given location in the countyHighly likelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)not shownmodeledsee B1-fDescriptor from NRI: the rate at a location is 1 or more a year, so the county rate is at least that.
Cold Wave0.684event-days per yearabout 0.684 days per yearStorm Events event-days in 0 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (0%)132005-11-12 to 2024-11-12 (19 years)countywideNo Storm Events cold wave record, 1996 to 2025.
Drought2.57event-days per yearabout 2.57 days per yearPossibleStorm Events event-days in 1 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (3.33%)772000 to 2025 (25.25 years; D3 and D4 only)countywide
Earthquake0.00129annual probability at a locationchance a given location in the county has at least minor-damage shaking in a year: 0.129%not shownmodeledsee B1-fNo descriptor (Storm Events does not record earthquakes).
Hail1.99events per yearabout 1.99 per yearHighly likelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)104.8 (modeled)1986 to 2023 (38 years)countywide
Heat Wave5.27event-days per yearabout 5.27 days per yearLikelyStorm Events event-days in 4 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (13.3%)772005-11-12 to 2024-11-12 (19 years)countywide
Hurricane0.178events per yearabout 1 in 6 yearsLikelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)661851 to 2024 (Atlantic)see B1-fNRI counts hurricane and tropical storm tracks passing within storm-force wind range; federal declarations are in B1-d.
Ice Storm1.13event-days per yearabout 1.13 days per yearPossibleStorm Events event-days in 2 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (6.67%)671946-12-31 to 2014-02-12 (67 years)countywide
Inland Flooding0.321event-days per yearabout 0.321 days per yearLikelyStorm Events event-days in 7 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (23.3%)91996 to 2023 (28 years)see B1-f
Landslide0.0457events per year (modeled)about 1 in 22 yearsPossibleFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)not shownmodeledsee B1-f
Lightning41.1days per year with a strikeabout 41.1 days per yearHighly likelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)not shown1995 to 2023 (29 years; CONUS)countywide
Strong Wind1.13events per yearabout 1.13 per yearHighly likelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)381986 to 2023 (38 years)countywide
Tornado0.109events per yearabout 1 in 9 yearsLikelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)not shown1950 to 2023 (EF2+); 1986 to 2023 (EF0-1)see B1-f
Tsunamiannual probability at the most exposed location (used in place of a county value)Storm Events records in 0 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (0%)not shownmodeledsee B1-fNo descriptor: no Storm Events record 1996 to 2025
Wildfire0.000167annual probability at a locationchance a given location in the county burns in a year: 0.0167%Storm Events records in 0 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (0%)not shownmodeledsee B1-fNo descriptor: no Storm Events record 1996 to 2025
Winter Weather4.95event-days per yearabout 4.95 days per yearLikelyStorm Events event-days in 22 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (73.3%)942005-11-12 to 2024-11-12 (19 years)countywide

FEMA annualized frequency (modeled) is the National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025) estimate of how often a hazard affects this county in a year; it is not recorded events divided by years, and its unit differs by hazard (events, event-days, or days with a lightning strike per year). For earthquake, wildfire, coastal flooding and tsunami the value is the chance (or number of events) at a location in the county, not across the county, so no "1 in N years" is given and the descriptor comes from Storm Events where it has a record (none for earthquake). The Methods page gives each hazard's method, from FEMA's National Risk Index Technical Documentation v1.20.

Where NRI gives event-days, the descriptor comes from the share of years with a Storm Events record; NRI's source records more events, so the two differ.

Descriptor scale used in this packet (defined per unit)

Sources: 5, 6

UnitDescriptorDefinition
events per yearHighly likely1 or more per year
events per yearLikelyabout once in 1 to 10 years
events per yearPossibleabout once in 10 to 100 years
events per yearUnlikelyless than once in 100 years
annual probabilityLikely10% to under 100% chance in a given year
annual probabilityPossible1% to under 10% chance in a given year
annual probabilityUnlikelyunder 1% chance in a given year
event-days (share of years)Highly likelyevent-days recorded in 90% or more of years
event-days (share of years)Likelyevent-days recorded in 10% to under 90% of years
event-days (share of years)Possibleevent-days recorded in some years but under 10% of years
lightning strike-daysHighly likelycloud-to-ground strikes on 1 or more days per year

Intensity bands: historical frequency (Storm Events)

Source: 6

HazardBandYearsEventscounty-coded recordsYears in periodEvents per yearevents / years
Hail1.00-1.99 in1996 to 20259300.3
Hail2.00 in+1996 to 20250300
Thunderstorm Wind (counted as NRI Strong Wind)50-64 kt1996 to 202559301.97
Thunderstorm Wind (counted as NRI Strong Wind)65 kt+1996 to 20251300.0333
Thunderstorm Wind (counted as NRI Strong Wind)unmeasured or below 50 kt1996 to 20258300.267
TornadoEF0-11996 to 20257300.233
TornadoEF2-31996 to 20251300.0333
TornadoEF4-51996 to 20250300
Tornadounrated (EFU)1996 to 20250300

The bands show how often events of each severity were recorded in this county, to profile how severe events have been (FEMA's probability item asks for the range of intensities).

Hail smaller than 1 inch is not counted: on 2010-01-05 the National Weather Service raised its severe-hail threshold from 3/4 inch to 1 inch, so smaller reports became less common after 2009 (NWS Service Change Notice 09-52). NRI hail frequency uses a 0.75 inch threshold.

Optional: future conditions. Not a required item in the 2025 FEMA Local Mitigation Planning Policy Guide; some states ask for it. The federal Climate Mapping for Resilience and Adaptation (CMRA) site gives county exposure to future climate conditions (https://resilience.climate.gov/).

Supports FEMA checklist item B1-f: hazards that vary across jurisdictions

Range of census tract risk within the county

Source: 5

HazardTractsrated of allNRI risk score, 0 to 100Tracts by rating
MinMedianMax
Coastal Flooding4 of 491.294.396.4Relatively High 1, Relatively Moderate 3
Cold Wave4 of 442.247.061.2Relatively Moderate 2, Relatively Low 2
Drought4 of 494.497.098.2Relatively High 1, Relatively Moderate 3
Earthquake4 of 435.447.856.6Relatively Low 3, Very Low 1
Hail4 of 456.258.963.9Relatively Low 4
Heat Wave4 of 427.335.454.0Relatively Low 4
Hurricane4 of 487.794.895.7Relatively High 3, Relatively Moderate 1
Ice Storm4 of 451.880.383.6Relatively Moderate 3, Relatively Low 1
Inland Flooding4 of 47.323.139.1Relatively Low 3, Very Low 1
Landslide4 of 469.876.181.9Relatively Low 1, Very Low 3
Lightning4 of 433.951.061.5Relatively Moderate 3, Relatively Low 1
Strong Wind4 of 472.689.892.1Relatively High 3, Relatively Moderate 1
Tornado4 of 439.553.358.2Relatively Moderate 2, Relatively Low 2
Tsunami0 of 4Insufficient Data 4
Wildfire4 of 468.674.181.8Relatively Low 3, Very Low 1
Winter Weather4 of 435.842.853.5Relatively Moderate 1, Relatively Low 3

Drought: Agriculture is all of NRI's expected annual loss for this hazard in the county, so the tract range mostly reflects where crop and livestock value is.

Rated tracts only: No Rating (score 0.0), Not Applicable and Insufficient Data tracts are counted but not used for the minimum, median and maximum.

The score ranks a tract against all U.S. tracts (100 = highest). The rating is FEMA's category for the tract's risk value, computed differently, so the two can disagree.

Frequency data for cold wave, drought, hail, heat wave, ice storm, lightning, strong wind and winter weather are county-wide or coarse (49 km grid or NWS zone), the same for every jurisdiction; the tract range mostly reflects where buildings and people are (crop and livestock value where a line above names agriculture).

Each jurisdiction (starting figures from federal data)

Sources: 1, 3, 4, 6

JurisdictionTypePlan statusRepetitive lossFMA RL and SRL (44 CFR 77.2); repeat-flood, any definitionPublic Assistance to this jurisdictionFEMA records matched by applicant name; federal share obligated, nominal dollarsEvent records naming this placeall years; since its planNotes
Middlesex CountyCountyApproved, expires 2027-04-11FMA RL 2, SRL 2; any 34$307,650.200 total; 0 since its planIncludes $52,550.39 for declarations not counted as hazard incidents (DR-4512-VA).
Urbanna townTownApproved, expires 2027-04-11FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 2$217,300.749 total; 0 since its plan

Repetitive-loss counts are for whole NFIP communities, which can extend beyond this county (see the note in B2-c).

School districts and special districts get a plan clock row only.

County Public Assistance in B1-d also includes applicants filed under the county that are not jurisdictions in this plan (for example state agencies, special districts and nonprofits), so the jurisdiction rows add up to less.

Supports FEMA checklist items B2-a and B2-b: vulnerability and potential impacts

Local data needed

The table below gives county-level starting figures; the plan describes impacts for each jurisdiction and its own assets.

  • Critical facilities and lifelines per hazard
  • A problem statement per jurisdiction per hazard
  • Changes in development in hazard-prone areas since the last approval, or a statement of none (E1-a)
  • Future assets

County-level starter: exposure, expected annual loss and damage since the plan

Sources: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7

HazardBuilding exposuremodeled dollarsAgriculture exposuremodeled dollarsPopulation exposedpeopleEAL buildingsmodeled dollars per yearEAL agriculturemodeled dollars per yearCost of expected deaths and injuriesFEMA's dollar value per year, not property damageEAL as % of exposurebuildings; agriculture where notedStorm Events damage since 2022-04-12county-coded records, property plus crops, nominal dollarsZone-level damage since planproperty plus crops, reported for the zonePublic Assistance since plannominal dollars; see noteNote
Coastal Flooding$200,383,610n/a493$280,770n/a$6,6520.14%$0
Cold Wave$3,619,727,793$11,352,61310,607$1,735$6,047$155,261under 0.0001%
Droughtn/a$7,841,653n/an/a$606,143n/a7.73% (agriculture)NRI has no building exposure for this hazard; agriculture shown
Earthquake$6,334,470,340n/a10,625$77,208n/a$13,6520.00122%
Hail$3,619,727,793$11,352,61310,607$17,466$13,170$7,4400.000483%$0
Heat Wave$3,619,727,793$11,352,61310,607$13$12$88,747under 0.0001%$0
Hurricane$3,619,727,793$11,352,61310,607$2,870,030$74,798$40,9390.0793%$0
Ice Storm$3,619,727,793n/a10,607$47,425n/a$3020.00131%
Inland Flooding$3,599,972,764$68,413381$1,056,615$212$4,051n/a (see note)NRI counts the full building value of any census block with some flood loss; this is not the value of buildings in the floodplain. Use local FIRM overlays for B2-a/B2-b.
Landslide$73,725,517n/a223$175n/a$100.000237%
Lightning$3,619,727,793n/a10,607$16,390n/a$21,5140.000453%
Strong Wind$3,619,727,793$11,352,61310,607$198,753$497$76,9310.00549%$67,000
Tornado$3,619,727,793$11,352,61310,607$128,950$233$98,5850.00356%$35,000
Tsunamin/an/an/an/an/an/aNRI publishes no building exposure for this county
Wildfire$1,041,289,998$1,698,0292,677$10,621$2$6760.00102%
Winter Weather$3,619,727,793$11,352,61310,607$770$3$5,547under 0.0001%$2,000no Public Assistance recorded (1 declaration)

Totals since 2022-04-12 (Storm Events through 2026-06-30): 15 county-coded records, 15 with a damage value recorded (including $0), $102,000; 11 zone-level records, 9 with a damage value recorded (including $0), $2,000 reported for the zone; Public Assistance: none recorded on the 1 counted declaration.

FEMA does not split Public Assistance by hazard. A declaration mapped to several hazards is listed under each of them with its full amount, so the per-hazard column does not add up to the total; the unit total counts each declaration once.

NRI computes earthquake exposure on its own basis, so it exceeds the county building value in B2-a.

Supports FEMA checklist item B2-a: vulnerability (county context)

County context

Source: 5

MeasureValue
Population10,607
Building value (total, not at risk)$3,619,727,793
Agriculture value (total, not at risk)$11,352,613
NRI risk rating (all hazards)Very Low
Expected annual loss, buildings and agriculture, all hazards$5,408,037
Expected annual loss, population equivalence, all hazards (NRI values each statistical life at $13.7M; a modeled value of expected deaths and injuries, not property damage)$520,306
Social vulnerability ratingVery High
Community resilience ratingRelatively High
NRI versionDecember 2025

FEMA's all-hazard expected annual loss adds buildings, agriculture and population equivalence; this table gives the property part and the population-equivalence part as separate rows.

Social vulnerability: higher means people are more likely to be harmed and slower to recover. Community resilience: lower means the community is less able to recover. High social vulnerability and low resilience both raise the NRI risk rating.

Supports FEMA checklist item B2-c: repetitive loss properties

Repetitive loss in this county, both definitions

Sources: 1, 4

DefinitionPropertiesSevere repetitive lossProperties
Repetitive loss, FMA definition (44 CFR 77.2)2Severe repetitive loss, FMA definition (44 CFR 77.2)2
Repetitive loss, NFIP insurance definition35Severe repetitive loss, NFIP insurance definition2

The state NFIP coordinator's list, the source FEMA's Handbook names, often uses the NFIP insurance definition (second row).

Repeat-flood properties: county and state-level rows

Sources: 1, 4

ScopeRL, FMApropertiesSRL, FMApropertiesRL, NFIPpropertiesSRL, NFIPpropertiesAny categorypropertiesMitigatedpropertiesCurrently insuredproperties
County total2235236113
of which: Middlesex County (unincorporated area)2233234112
of which: Urbanna town0020201
Statewide, no county in FEMA's file0040400

The statewide row counts properties FEMA's file gives with no county in this state; they are listed for reference and are not in this county's counts.

Repeat-flood properties by jurisdiction in the plan (NFIP community)

Sources: 1, 4

JurisdictionNFIP community IDRL, FMApropertiesSRL, FMApropertiesRL, NFIPpropertiesSRL, NFIPpropertiesAny categorypropertiesMitigatedpropertiesCurrently insuredproperties
Middlesex County5100982233234112
Urbanna town5102920020201

Counts by occupancy group for each jurisdiction are in the Excel file, sheet "B2-c Jurisdictions".

Jurisdiction rows are whole NFIP communities and need not add up to the county total: a community that extends into another county is counted in full on each jurisdiction row, while the county table counts only its part in this county.

County repeat-flood properties by occupancy group

Sources: 1, 4

Occupancy groupRL, FMApropertiesSRL, FMApropertiesRL, NFIPpropertiesSRL, NFIPpropertiesAny categorypropertiesMitigatedpropertiesCurrently insuredproperties
single-family residential2234235113
2 to 4 unit residential0000000
other residential0010100
non-residential0000000
not reported0000000

FEMA's occupancy groups have no institutional class; institutional properties are counted in non-residential or other residential in the table by occupancy group.

FMA RL and FMA SRL are the Flood Mitigation Assistance definitions (44 CFR 77.2), the ones the FEMA Local Mitigation Planning Policy Guide cites. NFIP repetitive loss (the FEMA insurance definition) is 2 or more claims over $1,000 in 10 years, and a property can leave that group once it is mitigated. Also shown: NFIP severe repetitive loss, any category, mitigated and currently insured. The Methods page gives the OpenFEMA field details.

Counts are aggregates of FEMA's public NFIP Multiple Loss Properties file (FEMA's data date 2026-08-02; file version 2026-08-04). No property is identified. County assignment is FEMA's geocode.

In this county 1 property is FMA repetitive loss but not NFIP repetitive loss, and 34 properties are NFIP repetitive loss but not FMA repetitive loss.

Exact counts; no count suppression.

Sources

Tables cite these sources by number. The full list, for the plan's bibliography (FEMA review item A4-a):

  1. FEMA, OpenFEMA HazardMitigationPlanStatuses v1, version 2026-09-29T134039Z, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v1/HazardMitigationPlanStatuses (API)
  2. FEMA, OpenFEMA DisasterDeclarationsSummaries v2, version 2026-09-29T162832Z, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v2/DisasterDeclarationsSummaries (API)
  3. FEMA, OpenFEMA PublicAssistanceFundedProjectsSummaries v1, version 2026-09-29T150754Z, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v1/PublicAssistanceFundedProjectsSummaries (API)
  4. FEMA, OpenFEMA NfipMultipleLossProperties v1, version 2026-08-04T164045Z, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v1/NfipMultipleLossProperties (API)
  5. FEMA, FEMA National Risk Index 1.20.0 (December 2025), county and census tract tables, version 1.20.0, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.fema.gov/about/reports-and-data/openfema/nri/v120/NRI_Table_Counties.zip (download, 25 MB), https://www.fema.gov/about/reports-and-data/openfema/nri/v120/NRI_Table_CensusTracts.zip (download, 635 MB)
  6. NOAA NCEI, NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, details files (csvfiles v1.0), version c20260918, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/swdi/stormevents/csvfiles/
  7. NOAA National Weather Service, NWS county-public forecast zones correlation file, version bp03mr20 to bp16ap26 (11 files; newest bp16ap26), pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.weather.gov/gis/ZoneCounty
  8. U.S. Census Bureau, Census 2024 Gazetteer, 2020 place by county, CT county-to-cousub crosswalk, version 2024-gazetteer, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_counties_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_cousubs_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_place_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_unsd_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_elsd_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_scsd_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/reference/codes2020/national_place_by_county2020.txt, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/reference/ct_change/ct_cou_to_cousub_crosswalk.xlsx (used to match place names and codes; no table prints its values)

What this packet is and what the plan adds

This packet is the federal data for the plan's risk assessment (the summary on page 1 says how it is organized); the plan and FEMA's review decide whether each item is met.

The plan adds what only the community has: local data on assets, critical facilities, development and each jurisdiction's impacts; local hazard history, including state-declared emergencies; the mitigation strategy; and adoption.

How the federal data are built: National Risk Index values are FEMA's model, not counts of events. Storm Events is more complete from 1996; zone-level records are placed by forecast zone, not by location in the county. Public Assistance for a jurisdiction is matched by applicant name. The Methods page gives every rule and the known edge cases.

OpenFEMA disclaimer

This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).

Reuse, citation and corrections

Reuse and citation: Hazard Plain text and tables are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/); credit Hazard Plain and the release. The underlying federal data are public domain; OpenFEMA data are also subject to the OpenFEMA terms and conditions.

Cite this: Hazard Plain (2026). Middlesex County, VA: risk-assessment baseline packet, release 2026-10 (data as of 2026-09-30; County FIPS 51119). Automated baseline. https://hazardplain.org/va/51119/ Built from FEMA OpenFEMA, the FEMA National Risk Index and NOAA NCEI Storm Events; source versions in the packet's Sources list.

Corrections: to report an error, name the packet, the table and what your records show. Contact: [email protected]