Orange County, VA Environment & Hazard Risk

• DroughtRelatively Moderate$1.4M/yr expected annual loss, about 3.5 events a year
• HurricaneRelatively Low$1.7M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 12 years
• EarthquakeRelatively Low$661K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 466 years
• Strong windRelatively Low$636K/yr expected annual loss, about 4.7 events a year
• Heat waveRelatively Low$337K/yr expected annual loss, about 4.7 events a year
• LightningRelatively Low$207K/yr expected annual loss, about 41 events a year
• HailRelatively Low$215K/yr expected annual loss, about 3.2 events a year
• LandslideVery Low$527/yr expected annual loss, about once every 3 years
• WildfireVery Low$19K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 1,877 years
• Winter weatherRelatively Low$34.3K/yr expected annual loss, about 8.0 events a year
• TornadoVery Low$482K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 6 years
• Ice stormVery Low$25.7K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 2 years
• Cold waveVery Low$80.7K/yr expected annual loss, about 1.1 events a year

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, coastal flooding, riverine flooding, tsunami, volcanic activity.

Check the flood zone for an address

Homes with flood insurance

69 of 14,967 (0.5%)

Homes in high-risk flood zones

35

Insured in high-risk zones

19 (54%)

Flood claims since 1978

20

Claims paid since 1978

$279K

• Thunderstorm Wind268
• Flood99
• Dense Fog99
• Winter Weather83
• Heat51
• Hail48
• Winter Storm41
• Frost/Freeze36
• Flash Flood34
• Drought11

• Drought08/01/1999

  Orange

  $10M damage

  What happened

  High pressure was the dominant weather feature across Northern Virginia through the 24th of August. Most rain producing storm systems steered north of the region through the period. This resulted in the continuation of the climatological, meteorological, and hydrological drought which has plagued the area since last summer. Heavy rain fell east of the Blue Ridge Mountains on the 25th and 27th, helping to fill surface reservoirs. Unfortunately, because most of the rain fell in the form of thunderstorm downpours, most of the moisture ran off into rivers before it had the chance to seep into the aquifer supply. Groundwater reserves remained unaffected and wells and springs remained short of water. High temperatures were at or above 90 degrees through the 19th then cooled into the 70s and 80s for the remainder of the month. By the 26th of August the Palmer Drought Index, a measure of long term drought conditions, indicated Northern Virginia was in an extreme drought. From September 1998 through August 1999 precipitation was a staggering 8 to 14 inches below average. August rainfall totalled 5.46 inches at Dulles Airport in Loudoun County, 1.49 inches above normal. However...

• High Wind50 kt wind09/18/2003

  Orange

  1 injured, $1.7M damage

  What happened

  By 9 pm on September 18, a rain band associated with Isabel had set up over the Shenandoah Valley and showers were training southward into the Blue Ridge Mountains on the east side of Augusta County. The rain gauge located at Upper Sherando had recorded over 6 inches of rain and more was to come. County officials quickly began evacuations of homes downstream. In all 350 people in the South River area would be evacuated and 21 of those ended up being by boat. Water flowed down the Black Creek at 60 mph washing out the bridge and several hundred feet of asphalt along Route 608. Four spillways to dams flooded causing damage but none of them failed. There was $125,000 damage to the Mill Creek Dam alone. Damages to public roads and equipment were estimated at $1 million. One home was destroyed and three businesses and four condos had major damage.

• Thunderstorm Wind06/07/2002

  Flatrun, Orange County

  1 injured, $200K damage

  What happened

  Numerous trees and power lines were downed onto roads and houses. One person was injured when a tree fell onto their Lake of the Woods home.

• Flood09/06/1996

  Orange

  $1.1M damage

  What happened

  The rapid runoff produced by the heavy rains from Fran caused substantial, damaging, and in some cases record river flooding across much of the northern Virginia watershed from late on the 6th until early on the 10th. Flash flooding on the 6th rapidly became river flooding late on the 6th along the headwaters of the Potomac, Shenandoah, and Rappahannock River basins, and continued throughout the basins over the weekend and into early the following week. Crests at gaging points in these basins were similar to those in January 1996 across the Lower Main Stem of the Potomac. Levels were 1 to 5 feet higher across the Upper Main Stem Potomac and Rappahannock Rivers. The Shenandoah Basin had levels similar to the October 1942 flood with three points reaching record levels (Lynnwood, Cootes Store, and Strasburg).There were numerous road closures, rescues, evacuations, washed out and damaged bridges and culverts; the flood also produced major agricultural damage. Debris covered pasture and farmland, and filled small creeks and streams to levels higher than surrounding roads, which redirected the natural stream flow. River sand and mud covered streets and multiple levels of homes...

• Thunderstorm Wind52 kt wind01/01/2025

  Thornhill, Orange County

  1 injured, $10K damage

  What happened

  A large tree blew down onto an occupied vehicle in the 17000 block of VA-669 Marquis Road.

• Flash Flood09/06/1996

  Countywide, Orange County

  $580K damage

• WildernessServes 13,274 · Surface water · Local government8 health violations+2 monitoring or reporting
• Orange, Town ofServes 5,022 · Surface water · Local governmentNo health violations+2 monitoring or reporting
• Gordonsville, Town ofServes 1,800 · Purchased surface water · Local governmentNo health violations
• Rsa Route 20Serves 390 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations
• Rsa Route 15Serves 284 · Purchased surface water · Local governmentNo health violations
• Wolftrap WoodsServes 38 · Groundwater · PrivateNo health violations