Accomack County, VA Environment & Hazard Risk

• Coastal floodingVery High$10.9M/yr expected annual loss, about 3.7 events a year
• HurricaneRelatively High$13.2M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 4 years
• WildfireRelatively Low$276K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 885 years
• DroughtRelatively Low$195K/yr expected annual loss, about 2.0 events a year
• Cold waveRelatively Low$845K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 1 year
• Heat waveRelatively Low$296K/yr expected annual loss, about 5.0 events a year
• EarthquakeVery Low$208K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 1,067 years
• Ice stormRelatively Low$58K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 4 years
• Strong windRelatively Low$211K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 2 years
• Winter weatherRelatively Low$17.7K/yr expected annual loss, about 5.1 events a year
• HailVery Low$57.1K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 1 year
• LightningVery Low$52.7K/yr expected annual loss, about 34 events a year
• TornadoVery Low$142K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 3 years
• LandslideVery Low$46/yr expected annual loss, about once every 19 years

Bars show the national percentile score (0 to 100) for each hazard. Dollar figures are expected annual losses to buildings, people and crops. Not rated here: avalanche, riverine flooding, tsunami, volcanic activity.

Check the flood zone for an address

Homes with flood insurance

2,660 of 19,852 (13.4%)

Homes in high-risk flood zones

5,418

Insured in high-risk zones

2,278 (42%)

Flood claims since 1978

1,114

Claims paid since 1978

$12.6M

• Thunderstorm Wind97
• Heavy Rain48
• Winter Weather35
• Winter Storm32
• Hail25
• Flash Flood25
• Coastal Flood19
• High Wind16
• Tropical Storm7
• Strong Wind5

• Hurricane (Typhoon)09/15/1999

  Accomack

  1 death, $10.6M damage

  What happened

  Hurricane Floyd was a Category 1 hurricane as it crossed the Wakefield WFO county warning area. Sustained tropical storm force winds with gusts to near hurricane force occurred over the northwest quadrant of the storm over interior portions of northeast North Carolina and along the coastal waters of the Wakefield marine area. The center of the storm crossed the county warning area along an Elizabeth City to Currituck county to Sandbridge Virginia Beach axis. The highest sustained wind speed recorded was 69 mph at Chesapeake Light (CHLV2). Other sustained wind speeds were 46 mph at Langley Air Force Base (LFI), 44 mph at Norfolk Naval Air Station (NGU), and 41 mph at Oceana Naval Air Station (NTU). The highest gusts recorded were 100 mph at the James River Bridge, 84 mph at Chesapeake Light, and 63 mph at Langley Air Force Base. Two confirmed tornadoes occurred in association with Floyd. There were approximately several thousand persons evacuated and housed in several shelters from coastal jurisdictions. Hundreds of trees and power lines were blown down across interior southeast Virginia and the immediate Hampton Roads area, resulting in widespread power outages. The tidal...

• Rip Current07/24/2025

  Accomack

  1 death, 2 injured

  What happened

  Two swimmers were caught in a rip current while swimming near the southern end of the Chincoteague Beach parking lot at Assateague Island National Seashore on July 24. One was rescued while the other, an 18 year old male, was pulled from the water unconscious and unresponsive and was later pronounced dead upon arrival at a hospital after CPR was performed. The incident occurred 150 yards south of the lifeguarded zone of the seashore, however, lifeguards responded quickly and assisted with the search.

• Hurricane (Typhoon)09/18/2003

  Accomack

  1 death

  What happened

  Hurricane Isabel was a Category 1 hurricane as it crossed the Wakefield WFO county warning area. Sustained tropical storm force winds with frequent gusts to hurricane force occurred over Eastern Virginia, along and near the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Coastal Waters. Isabel made landfall near Ocracoke Inlet in North Carolina, tracked northwest into central Virginia just west of Richmond, then continued northward into western Pennsylvania. The highest sustained wind speed recorded was 72 mph at Chesapeake Light (CHLV2). Other sustained wind speeds were 69 mph at Gloucester Point (VIMS), 61 mph at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, 58 mph at Norfolk Naval Air Station (NGU), 57 mph at Sewells Point, and 55 mph at Oceana Naval Air Station (NTU). The highest gusts recorded were 107 mph at Gwynns Island (Mathews County), 100 mph at Reedville (Middlesex County), 93 mph at Chesapeake Light, 91 mph at Gloucester Point, and 83 mph at Norfolk Naval Air Station. Only one confirmed tornado occurred in association with Isabel. Mandatory evacuations were ordered for parts of Hampton Roads, with approximately several thousand persons evacuated and housed in numerous shelters across central and...

• Flood07/02/2016

  Parksley, Accomack County

  1 death

  What happened

  Heavy rainfall from earlier thunderstorms continued to produce numerous reports of flooding and road closures across central Accomack county.

• Rip Current10/07/2018

  Accomack

  1 death

  What happened

  A 57 year old male drown in a rip current around 2 pm.

• Rip Current10/08/2018

  Accomack

  1 death

  What happened

  An 18 year old male drown in a rip current around 2 pm.

• Chincoteague, Town ofServes 3,344 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+2 monitoring or reporting
• Captains CoveServes 2,380 · Groundwater · PrivateNo health violations
• Nasa Wallops Flight FacilityServes 1,625 · Groundwater · Federal7 health violations
• Onancock, Town ofServes 1,525 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+3 monitoring or reporting
• Virginia LandingServes 975 · Groundwater · PrivateNo health violations
• Parksley, Town ofServes 804 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations
• Trails EndServes 495 · Groundwater · PrivateNo health violations
• Tangier, Town ofServes 393 · Groundwater · Local government1 health violation+6 monitoring or reporting