Hazard Plain Automated baseline

Petersburg city, VA

Risk-assessment baseline packet

Independent city FIPS:
51730
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 2027-08-07. Plan: PDC 15 & 19 Richmond-Crater Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan (FEMA plan 108426), approved 2022-08-08.

Update: FEMA tracker shows a plan in progress.

Since the plan was approved on 2022-08-08: 1 new hazard declaration (1 incident) and 36 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): Inland Flooding ($3,299,515 a year), Earthquake ($532,064) and Hurricane ($445,319).

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 2027-08-07
Plan:
PDC 15 & 19 Richmond-Crater Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan (FEMA plan 108426)
Approved:
2022-08-08
Days to expiry:
311
Update underway:
FEMA tracker shows a plan in progress

What changed since your last plan (approved 2022-08-08)

New federal declarations:
1 new hazard declaration (1 incident): EM-3631-VA (Severe Winter Storm)
Storm Events records since approval:
36 records (data through 2026-06-30)
Repetitive loss now:
FMA RL 1, SRL 3 (44 CFR 77.2); any definition: 16
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
Petersburg cityCityApproved, expires 2027-08-07PDC 15 & 19 Richmond-Crater Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan (FEMA plan 108426)2022-08-082027-08-07311FEMA tracker shows a plan in progressthis jurisdiction approved 2023-02-21

Plan 108426 covers 22 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
1Inland FloodingVery LowVery Low$3,286,642$0$12,873$3,299,51541
2EarthquakeRelatively LowRelatively Low$421,963n/a$110,100$532,064Storm Events does not record earthquakes.
3HurricaneRelatively LowRelatively Low$426,120$0$19,199$445,3192
4TornadoRelatively LowRelatively Low$216,954$0$181,137$398,0912
5Heat WaveRelatively LowRelatively Low$26$0$315,714$315,7395
6Strong WindRelatively LowRelatively Low$17,712$0$139,434$157,14637Includes 3 High Wind and 1 Strong Wind records (NOAA non-thunderstorm wind types, outside NRI's Strong Wind definition).
7LightningRelatively LowRelatively Low$5,489n/a$105,859$111,3482
8Ice StormRelatively LowRelatively Low$68,702n/a$120$68,8223
9Winter WeatherRelatively LowRelatively Low$2,358$0$47,431$49,78974
10HailVery LowVery Low$13,520$0$17,751$31,2714
11Coastal FloodingVery LowVery Low$7,661n/a$31$7,6922
12WildfireVery LowVery Low$3,920$0$332$4,2520No recorded events in Storm Events since 1996 (data through 2026-06-30).
13Cold WaveVery LowVery Low$2,326$0$1,782$4,1084Includes 3 Frost/Freeze records (outside NRI's Cold Wave definition; counted in this table and in B1-d, not in the B1-e descriptor).
14LandslideVery LowVery Low$3n/a$2$50No recorded events in Storm Events since 1996 (data through 2026-06-30).
15DroughtNo RatingNo Expected Annual Lossesn/a$0n/a$03

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 and landslide 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, tsunami 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 8113 (Relatively Low, 77.3); tract 8111 (Relatively Low, 72.9); tract 8112 (Relatively Low, 70.6)
Hurricanetract 8113 (Relatively Low, 75.2); tract 8112 (Relatively Low, 74.4); tract 8111 (Relatively Low, 73.9)
Landslidetract 8110 (Very Low, 43.4); tract 8101 (Very Low, 38.5); tract 8113 (Very Low, 37.5)
Tornadotract 8112 (Relatively Low, 50.6); tract 8113 (Relatively Low, 50.3); tract 8111 (Relatively Low, 49.0)
Wildfiretract 8111 (Relatively Low, 75.8); tract 8112 (Very Low, 66.2); tract 8113 (Very Low, 65.2)

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 8113 is Census Tract 8113). 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)2 records, 2015 to 2025 (2 zone-level)No damage reported in 2 records.Countywide (zone-level records).Flood depth: see the FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map.
Cold/Wind Chill, Extreme Cold/Wind Chillwind chill1 record, 1996 (1 zone-level)3 days; 1 with a recorded value3 consecutive days, 1996-02-05 to 1996-02-07, zone-levelCountywide (zone-level records).
Frost/Freeze (outside NRI's Cold Wave definition)crop damage3 records, 2003 to 2016 (3 zone-level)No crop damage reported in 3 records.Countywide (zone-level records).
DroughtU.S. Drought Monitor scale (D0 to D4)3 records, 1997 to 1998 (3 zone-level)30 days to 61 days (median 45.5 days); 2 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, 1997-09-01, property not reported; $3,540,000 crops (zone total, 1997 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)5 records, 1977 to 20050.75 in to 1.75 in (median 0.88 in); 5 with a recorded value1.75 in hail, 1977-04-24Event records naming jurisdictions in the plan: Petersburg city (4 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-Simpson2 records, 2003 to 2011 (2 zone-level)Strongest recorded: Hurricane record (NOAA event type 'Hurricane (Typhoon)'), 2003-09-18 to 2003-09-19, $6,000,000 property; $3,700,000 crops (2003 dollars), 1 direct death (reported for the zone); NWS zone VAZ081Countywide (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)3 records, 1998 to 2021 (3 zone-level)Ice Storm, 2021-02-13, $50,000 property; $0 crops (2021 dollars); NWS zone VAZ081Countywide (zone-level records).
Flash Flood, Flood, Lakeshore Flooddamage and flood days (flood depth: FIRM)41 records, 1999 to 2026Flash Flood, 2025-07-15, $4,760,000 property; $0 crops (2025 dollars)Event records naming jurisdictions in the plan: Petersburg city (41 records).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)2 records, 2000Lightning, 2000-09-15, $10,000 property; crops not reported (2000 dollars)Event records naming jurisdictions in the plan: Petersburg city (2 records).Storm Events lists lightning with damage or casualties.
High Wind and Strong Wind (outside NRI's Strong Wind definition)wind speed (kt and mph)4 records, 1999 to 2008 (4 zone-level)40 kt (46 mph) to 43 kt (49 mph) (median 41.5 kt (48 mph)); 2 with a recorded value43 kt (49 mph) measured gust, Strong Wind, 2008-03-08; NWS zone VAZ081High Wind, 1999-09-16, $5,000 property; crops not reported (zone total, 1999 dollars)Countywide (zone-level records).
Thunderstorm Windwind speed (kt and mph)41 records, 1977 to 202650 kt (58 mph) to 61 kt (70 mph) (median 50 kt (58 mph)); 25 with a recorded value61 kt (70 mph), measurement type not recorded, Thunderstorm Wind, 1980-07-05Thunderstorm Wind, 2012-06-29, $100,000 property; $0 crops (2012 dollars)Event records naming jurisdictions in the plan: Petersburg city (33 records).
TornadoEnhanced Fujita (Fujita before Feb 2007)4 records, 1970 to 2012F/EF0 to F/EF3 (median between F/EF1 and F/EF2); 4 with a recorded valueF3 tornado, 1984-05-08, 2 mi path length (whole path, pre-1996), 1,500 yd wide, $25,000,000 property; crops not recorded (1984 dollars)Event records naming jurisdictions in the plan: Petersburg city (2 records).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).
Wildfireacres burned (local data)0
Winter Storm, Heavy Snow, Blizzard, Lake-Effect Snow, Winter Weather, Sleetnone in data (snowfall: local data)74 records, 1996 to 2025 (74 zone-level)Winter Storm, 2021-02-18, $30,000 property; $0 crops (2021 dollars); NWS zone VAZ081Countywide (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 and lightning.

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: 17 declarations covering 14 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
2020-04-022020-01-20DR-4512-VAMajor disasterCOVID-19 PandemicNon-natural, not countedno Public Assistance recorded
2020-03-132020-01-20EM-3448-VAEmergencyCOVID-19Non-natural, not countedno Public Assistance recordedsame incident as DR-4512
2018-09-112018-09-13EM-3403-VAEmergencyHurricane FlorenceHurricaneno Public Assistance recorded
2012-10-292012-10-26EM-3359-VAEmergencyHurricane SandyHurricaneno Public Assistance recorded
2011-09-032011-08-26DR-4024-VAMajor disasterHurricane IreneHurricane$401,031.10
2005-09-122005-08-29EM-3240-VAEmergencyHurricane Katrina EvacuationHurricane: evacuation support, not a local hazard event; not countedno Public Assistance recorded
2004-09-032004-08-30DR-1544-VAMajor disasterSevere Storms, Flooding and Tornadoes Associated W Td GastonInland Flooding; TornadoPA not declared for this county
2003-09-182003-09-18DR-1491-VAMajor disasterHurricane IsabelHurricane$2,733,340.67
2000-02-282000-01-25DR-1318-VAMajor disasterSevere Winter StormsWinter Weather$106,037.21
1999-09-181999-09-13DR-1293-VAMajor disasterHurricane Floyd Major Disaster DeclarationsHurricane$502,751.34
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
1993-12-221993-08-06DR-1007-VAMajor disasterSevere Storms and TornadoesTornadoPA not declared for this county
1993-03-251993-03-13EM-3112-VAEmergencySevere Winter StormWinter Weatherno 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.

Public Assistance filed under this county for declarations that do not list it: 1 row, $127,176.15

Sources: 2, 3

FEMA numberDeclaredTitleApplicantPA obligatedfederal share obligated, nominal dollars
DR-4401-VA2018-10-15Hurricane FlorenceVirginia State University$127,176.15

FEMA's Public Assistance summaries file these applicants under this county, but FEMA's declaration rows for these disasters do not designate it (an electric cooperative or district serving several counties, for example). Not in any declaration row above and not counted.

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 Flooding2101001996 to 2026-06-30
Cold Wave4000101996 to 2026-06-30Includes 3 Frost/Freeze records.
Drought3000001996 to 2026-06-30
Earthquake000000Storm Events does not record earthquakes; the USGS earthquake catalog is the source.
Hail5000001955 to 2026-06-30
Heat Wave5202001996 to 2026-06-30
Hurricane2000601996 to 2026-06-30
Ice Storm3000001996 to 2026-06-30
Inland Flooding4126228301996 to 2026-06-30
Landslide0000001996 to 2026-06-30No recorded events, 1996 to 2026-06-30, NOAA NCEI Storm Events
Lightning2000001996 to 2026-06-30
Strong Wind45527001955 to 2026-06-30Includes 3 High Wind and 1 Strong Wind records.
Tornado4000201950 to 2026-06-30
Wildfire0000001996 to 2026-06-30No recorded events, 1996 to 2026-06-30, NOAA NCEI Storm Events
Winter Weather74235511996 to 2026-06-30

Notable Storm Events records

Sources: 1, 6, 7

DateEvent typeMagnitude or extentDamagenominal dollarsDeaths, injuriesdirect onlyLocationFlagsWhy listed
2025-07-15Flash Flood$4,760,000 property; $0 crops (2025 dollars)0, 0PETERSBURGnew since last plan; within last 5 yearsB1-c worst recorded: Flash Flood, Flood, Lakeshore Flood
2021-02-18Winter Storm$30,000 property; $0 crops (zone total, 2021 dollars)0, 0NWS zone VAZ081 (PRINCE GEORGE), zone-levelB1-c worst recorded: Winter Storm, Heavy Snow, Blizzard, Lake-Effect Snow, Winter Weather, Sleet
2021-02-13Ice Storm$50,000 property; $0 crops (zone total, 2021 dollars)0, 0NWS zone VAZ081 (PRINCE GEORGE), zone-levelB1-c worst recorded: Ice Storm
2012-07-05Heat$0 property; $0 crops (zone total, 2012 dollars)0, 0NWS zone VAZ081 (PRINCE GEORGE), zone-levelB1-c worst recorded: Excessive Heat, Heat
2012-06-01TornadoEF0, 3 mi within this county, 150 yd wide$175,000 property; $0 crops (2012 dollars)0, 5PETERSBURGdeaths or injuries recorded
2008-03-08Strong Wind43 kt (49 mph) measured gust$1,000 property; $0 crops (zone total, 2008 dollars)0, 0NWS zone VAZ081 (PRINCE GEORGE), zone-levelB1-c worst recorded: High Wind and Strong Wind
2003-09-18Hurricane (NOAA event type 'Hurricane (Typhoon)')$6,000,000 property; $3,700,000 crops (zone total, 2003 dollars)1, 0NWS zone VAZ081 (PRINCE GEORGE), zone-leveldeaths or injuries recorded
2000-09-15Lightning$10,000 property; crops not reported (2000 dollars)0, 0PETERSBURGB1-c worst recorded: Lightning
2000-05-29High Wind40 kt (46 mph) estimateddamage not reported1, 1NWS zone VAZ081 (PRINCE GEORGE / HOPEWELL), zone-leveldeaths or injuries recorded
1984-05-08TornadoF3, 2 mi path length (whole path, pre-1996), 1,500 yd wide$25,000,000 property; crops not recorded (1984 dollars)0, 0location not recordedB1-c worst recorded: Tornado
1980-07-05Thunderstorm Wind61 kt (70 mph), measurement type not recordeddamage not recorded (pre-1996 record)0, 0location not recordedB1-c worst recorded: Thunderstorm Wind
1977-04-24Hail1.75 indamage not recorded (pre-1996 record)0, 0location not recordedB1-c worst recorded: Hail

The full list is in the Excel file, sheet "B1-d Storm Events history" (190 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 Wave0.473event-days per yearabout 0.473 days per yearPossibleStorm Events event-days in 1 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (3.33%)8.982005-11-12 to 2024-11-12 (19 years)countywide
Drought4.99event-days per yearabout 4.99 days per yearPossibleStorm Events event-days in 2 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (6.67%)1262000 to 2025 (25.25 years; D3 and D4 only)countywide
Earthquake0.0017annual probability at a locationchance a given location in the county has at least minor-damage shaking in a year: 0.17%not shownmodeledsee B1-fNo descriptor (Storm Events does not record earthquakes).
Hail2.25events per yearabout 2.25 per yearHighly likelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)85.7 (modeled)1986 to 2023 (38 years)countywide
Heat Wave5.63event-days per yearabout 5.63 days per yearLikelyStorm Events event-days in 4 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (13.3%)85.92005-11-12 to 2024-11-12 (19 years)countywide
Hurricane0.178events per yearabout 1 in 6 yearsLikelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)321851 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 Storm1.33event-days per yearabout 1.33 days per yearLikelyStorm Events event-days in 3 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (10%)891946-12-31 to 2014-02-12 (67 years)countywide
Inland Flooding0.464event-days per yearabout 0.464 days per yearLikelyStorm Events event-days in 11 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (36.7%)131996 to 2023 (28 years)see B1-f
Landslide0.0101events per year (modeled)about 1 in 99 yearsPossibleFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)not shownmodeledsee B1-f
Lightning44.1days per year with a strikeabout 44.1 days per yearHighly likelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)not shown1995 to 2023 (29 years; CONUS)countywide
Strong Wind0.648events per yearabout 0.65 per yearLikelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)251986 to 2023 (38 years)countywide
Tornado0.0132events per yearabout 1 in 76 yearsPossibleFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)not shown1950 to 2023 (EF2+); 1986 to 2023 (EF0-1)see B1-f
Wildfire0.0000574annual probability at a locationchance a given location in the county burns in a year: 0.00574%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 Weather4.58event-days per yearabout 4.58 days per yearLikelyStorm Events event-days in 22 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (73.3%)86.92005-11-12 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 20251300.0333
Hail2.00 in+1996 to 20250300
Thunderstorm Wind (counted as NRI Strong Wind)50-64 kt1996 to 202523300.767
Thunderstorm Wind (counted as NRI Strong Wind)65 kt+1996 to 20250300
Thunderstorm Wind (counted as NRI Strong Wind)unmeasured or below 50 kt1996 to 20259300.3
TornadoEF0-11996 to 20252300.0667
TornadoEF2-31996 to 20250300
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 Flooding3 of 1178.779.684.8Relatively Low 3, No Rating 8
Cold Wave11 of 1116.116.216.5Very Low 11
Drought0 of 11No Rating 11
Earthquake11 of 1149.258.977.3Relatively Low 11
Hail11 of 1129.736.144.2Relatively Low 3, Very Low 8
Heat Wave11 of 1127.544.058.4Relatively Moderate 1, Relatively Low 10
Hurricane11 of 1159.465.475.2Relatively Low 11
Ice Storm11 of 1143.956.974.6Relatively Moderate 3, Relatively Low 8
Inland Flooding11 of 118.223.357.4Relatively Moderate 1, Relatively Low 5, Very Low 5
Landslide11 of 1113.328.643.4Very Low 11
Lightning11 of 1135.349.663.2Relatively Moderate 6, Relatively Low 5
Strong Wind11 of 1135.449.161.0Relatively Moderate 3, Relatively Low 8
Tornado11 of 1134.540.750.6Relatively Low 11
Wildfire11 of 1127.439.275.8Relatively Low 1, Very Low 10
Winter Weather11 of 1153.766.576.5Relatively Moderate 11

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, 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.

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 plan
Petersburg cityCityApproved, expires 2027-08-07FMA RL 1, SRL 3; any 16$3,669,461.0782 total; 31 since its plan

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

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 2022-08-08county-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$86,872,720n/a171$7,661n/a$310.00882%$0
Cold Wave$6,717,456,001$033,446$2,326$0$1,782under 0.0001%
Droughtn/a$0n/an/a$0n/aagriculture exposure is 0 in NRI
Earthquake$11,855,026,472n/a33,458$421,963n/a$110,1000.00356%
Hail$6,717,456,001$033,446$13,520$0$17,7510.000201%
Heat Wave$6,717,456,001$033,446$26$0$315,714under 0.0001%$0
Hurricane$6,717,357,617$033,445$426,120$0$19,1990.00634%
Ice Storm$6,715,344,044n/a33,441$68,702n/a$1200.00102%
Inland Flooding$6,713,393,671$0838$3,286,642$0$12,873n/a (see note)$5,120,000NRI 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$63,378,128n/a340$3n/a$2under 0.0001%
Lightning$6,717,456,001n/a33,446$5,489n/a$105,859under 0.0001%
Strong Wind$6,717,456,001$033,446$17,712$0$139,4340.000264%$6,000
Tornado$6,717,456,001$033,446$216,954$0$181,1370.00323%
Wildfire$927,883,797$05,147$3,920$0$3320.000422%
Winter Weather$6,717,456,001$033,446$2,358$0$47,431under 0.0001%$2,000no Public Assistance recorded (1 declaration)

Totals since 2022-08-08 (Storm Events through 2026-06-30): 31 county-coded records, 31 with a damage value recorded (including $0), $5,126,000; 5 zone-level records, 4 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
Population33,446
Building value (total, not at risk)$6,717,456,001
Agriculture value (total, not at risk)$0
NRI risk rating (all hazards)Very Low
Expected annual loss, buildings and agriculture, all hazards$4,473,396
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)$951,764
Social vulnerability ratingRelatively High
Community resilience ratingRelatively Low
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)1Severe repetitive loss, FMA definition (44 CFR 77.2)3
Repetitive loss, NFIP insurance definition16Severe 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 total131621609
of which: Petersburg city131621609
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
Petersburg city510112131621609

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 residential1272702
2 to 4 unit residential0020202
other residential0020201
non-residential0150504
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 0 properties are FMA repetitive loss but not NFIP repetitive loss, and 15 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). Petersburg city, VA: risk-assessment baseline packet, release 2026-10 (data as of 2026-09-30; Independent city FIPS 51730). Automated baseline. https://hazardplain.org/va/51730/ 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]