Giles County, Virginia
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 51071 · population 16,775 · 357 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 428 records for Giles County, Virginia from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 304 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (127 records). The deadliest single record is the February 3, 1996 cold/wind chill, filed for the forecast zone Giles, which covers the county: 1 death. FEMA has issued 22 declarations naming the county since 1972, 20 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Winter Storm” on January 23, 2026.
The record, 1950 to 2026
Storm records filed for the county each year (2026 to June 30, 2026). Before 1996 NOAA recorded only tornadoes (from 1950), thunderstorm wind and hail (from 1955).
- recorded, no damage figure
- under $100,000
- $100,000 or more
- $1 million or more
- $10 million or more, or a death
- $100 million or more, or 10 deaths
- a year's colour: its recorded damage or deaths
- a year with a death
- 1955: wind and hail recorded from 1955
- 1996: all 48 event types from 1996
- Storm records
- 428on 304 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 13 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $20Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- FEMA declarations
- 22latest 2026
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records through June 30, 2026 (file revision 20260918); damage converted to 2025 dollars with the BLS CPI-U. Search the record at NCEI. BLS consumer price index.
What hazards hit Giles County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 127 since 1977. 57% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1977 fell in June and July. The rank column places the county among Virginia's counties by days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land over each hazard's complete period.
| Hazard | Records | Days | First, last | Killed | Injured | Damage | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 127 | 94 | 1977-2026 | 0 | 2 | $1.1M | 64 of 96 |
| Floods | 87 | 54 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 0 | $9.5M | 29 of 96 |
| Hail | 72 | 44 | 1995-2025 | 0 | 0 | $7K | 22 of 96 |
| Winter storms | 69 | 67 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $14K | 62 of 96 |
| High wind and dust storms | 42 | 42 | 1999-2025 | 0 | 1 | $8.6M | 10 of 96 |
| Drought | 14 | 14 | 1998-2026 | 0 | 0 | $380K | 22 of 96 |
| Heavy rain | 6 | 6 | 2017-2023 | 0 | 0 | – | 67 of 96 |
| Extreme cold | 4 | 4 | 1996-2012 | 1 | 0 | $6K | 58 of 96 |
| Landslides and avalanches | 4 | 4 | 2008-2025 | 0 | 0 | $29K | 2 of 96 |
| Lightning | 3 | 3 | 2011-2022 | 0 | 0 | $36K | 47 of 96 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (county and forecast-zone records attributed to the county; a zone record shows its own totals on each county it covers). Days: dates with at least one record of the hazard in the county. Ranks: days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land (Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer), since 1950 for tornadoes, 1955 for hail and thunderstorm wind, 1996 for the rest.
When was the last damaging storm in Giles County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 12, 2026 thunderstorm wind.
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-12 | Thunderstorm WindInterior, Giles County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $500 |
| 2026-06-01 | DroughtGiles County · forecast zone Giles | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-05-01 | DroughtGiles County · forecast zone Giles | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-21 | DroughtGiles County · forecast zone Giles | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-30 | Winter StormGiles County · forecast zone Giles | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-24 | Winter StormGiles County · forecast zone Giles | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-12-30 | High WindGiles County · forecast zone Giles | 56 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-07-30 | Debris FlowLurich, Giles County | 0 | 0 | $10K | |
| 2025-07-30 | FloodRich Creek, Giles County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-06-26 | Thunderstorm WindBane, Giles County | 60 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $25K |
| 2025-05-13 | Debris FlowMountain Lake, Giles County | 0 | 0 | $5K | |
| 2025-03-16 | HailPembroke, Giles County | 1.25 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database; every record of 2025-2026 is listed, earlier ones when they caused deaths, injuries or $250,000 of damage (2025 dollars), and every tornado.
The deadliest and costliest records
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996-02-03 | Cold/Wind ChillGiles County · forecast zone Giles Bitterly cold air overspread southwest,west-central and south-central Virginia on the 3rd and continued until the 6th. Several daily low temperature records were established. At Lynchburg Regional Airport, the low on the morning of the 5th was 10 degrees below zero; tying the all-time record low. A Giles County man ... | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2024-05-26 | Thunderstorm WindPearisburg, Giles County A few trees and power lines were downed by thunderstorm winds in the Pearisburg area. One tree fell onto a tent and one of the occupants was injured. | 55 kt wind | 0 | 1 | $2K |
| 2013-07-07 | Thunderstorm WindNewport, Giles County Several trees were blown down along Summit Lane in Newport with one falling on a house and injuring a 91-year old woman. | 50 kt wind | 0 | 1 | $2K |
| 2007-04-16 | High WindGiles County · forecast zone Giles Trees were blown down across the county. Along the Appalachian Trail at the Pine Swamp Shelter, one tree came crashing down on the shelter which contained two hikers. Two other hikers were outside at the time the tree fell. The two inside were unhurt. The two outside jumped out of the way of the falling tree. One of ... | 52 kt wind | 0 | 1 | $57K |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-09-27 | High WindGiles County · forecast zone Giles | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $8.3M |
| 2010-03-13 | Flash FloodBane, Giles County | 0 | 0 | $2.7M | |
| 2003-11-20 | FloodGiles County · forecast zone Giles | 0 | 0 | $1.6M | |
| 2002-07-25 | Flash FloodPembroke, Giles County | 0 | 0 | $1.2M | |
| 2003-11-19 | Flash FloodPembroke, Giles County | 0 | 0 | $1.1M | |
| 2020-05-22 | FloodLurich, Giles County | 0 | 0 | $1.1M | |
| 1996-01-19 | Flash FloodCountywide, Giles County | 0 | 0 | $659K | |
| 2013-08-08 | Flash FloodPembroke, Giles County | 0 | 0 | $317K |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: deaths and injuries direct and indirect; damage is property plus crops as estimated by the National Weather Service, converted to 2025 dollars.
Is it getting more frequent?
Records per decade for Giles County's most frequent hazards. Counts rose everywhere after 1996, when NOAA began recording every event type, so compare decades within a hazard's complete period only (the shaded cells come before it).
| Hazard | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 39 | 52 | 24 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 8 | 28 | 27 | 24 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 28 | 19 | 7 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 17 | 17 | 25 | 10 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 1 | 22 | 13 | 6 |
| Drought | – | – | – | – | 6 | 4 | 1 | 3 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
57% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1977 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 34 · Feb 46 · Mar 29 · Apr 37 · May 66 · Jun 63 · Jul 60 · Aug 25 · Sep 14 · Oct 15 · Nov 9 · Dec 30 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Giles County
FEMA's register lists 22 declarations that include Giles County: 14 major disasters, 8 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (6) and hurricane (4).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-23 | EM-3631 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2025-04-04 | DR-4863 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms and Flooding |
| 2024-10-01 | DR-4831 | Tropical Storm | Tropical Storm Helene |
| 2024-09-29 | EM-3621 | Tropical Storm | Post-Tropical Cyclone Helene |
| 2020-04-02 | DR-4512 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3448 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2018-09-11 | EM-3403 | Hurricane | Hurricane Florence |
| 2012-10-29 | EM-3359 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2012-07-27 | DR-4072 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Straight-Line Winds |
| 2005-09-12 | EM-3240 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2004-10-18 | DR-1570 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding From the Remanants of Hurricane Jeanne |
| 2003-12-09 | DR-1502 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2000-02-28 | DR-1318 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| 1996-09-06 | DR-1135 | Hurricane | Hurricane Fran and Associated Severe Storm Cond |
| 1996-01-27 | DR-1098 | Flood | Flooding, High Winds, and Wind Driven Rain |
| 1996-01-13 | DR-1086 | Snowstorm | Blizzard of 96 (Severe Snow Storm) |
| 1995-07-01 | DR-1059 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 1994-03-10 | DR-1014 | Snowstorm | Severe Ice Storms, Flooding |
| 1993-03-25 | EM-3112 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 1977-04-07 | DR-530 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1976-10-15 | EM-3018 | Drought | Drought |
| 1972-06-23 | DR-339 | Flood | Tropical Storm Agnes |
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2), declarations through October 2, 2026; one declaration is counted once however many areas it names. OpenFEMA dataset page.
How many floods has Giles County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 87 flood or flash flood records for Giles County from 1996 to 2025, on 54 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Giles County ranks 1378th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $1.8 million on 88 claims filed in Giles County; the most in one year was 20 in 2003. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1978: 1 · 1979: 1 · 1989: 3 · 1992: 2 · 1993: 3 · 1995: 8 · 1996: 9 · 1998: 1 · 2003: 20 · 2004: 1 · 2010: 11 · 2013: 6 · 2015: 1 · 2018: 4 · 2020: 1 · 2023: 1 · 2024: 12 · 2025: 3; the other years: 0.
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims, as of September 8, 2026; claims by year of loss, payments in the dollars of the year paid. OpenFEMA dataset page.
FEMA's modeled risk for Giles County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Giles County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $5.4 million. These are FEMA's model estimates of future loss from 18 hazards, not a count of what happened; they can differ from the record above.
| Hazard | Risk rating | Expected annual loss | Modeled frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Landslide | Relatively Moderate | $37K | 1 a year (modeled) |
| Avalanche | Relatively Low | $3K | once in about 100 years (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | $4.4M | 1.7 a year (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | $425K | 4.6 a year (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | $27K | 13 a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | $94K | 43 a year (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | $127K | 2.4 a year (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Very Low | $156K | once in about 763 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Giles County
Source: U.S. Census Bureau county adjacency file; NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records since 1950. The Census Bureau's adjacency file.
Next
- Severe thunderstorm wind in VirginiaThe state's severe thunderstorm wind events, by county, year and month
- The Virginia recordEvery hazard in the state, its deadliest events and its federal declarations
- FEMA's risk rating for each hazard in Giles CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Giles County's FEMA declarations (CSV)22 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis