Natural hazards · Pennington Gap

Pennington Gap, VA natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Pennington Gap comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is very high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 9 claims here since 1978. 5 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025 · OpenFEMA claims, aid & declarations

Expected damage

How exposed is Pennington Gap?

Very high

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Pennington Gap to be higher than in 81% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding.

Inland flooding77%Cold waves8%Earthquakes6%Everything else10%

By hazard

What Pennington Gap faces

Each hazard’s share of the damage FEMA expects here, and how that compares with the rest of the country.

Inland flooding

77% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 93% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 2 years in the area

Cold waves

8% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 65% of U.S. places

Recorded about once a year in the area

Earthquakes

6% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 77% of U.S. places

Lower here

HurricanesTornadoesHailIce stormsWinter weatherHeat wavesWildfireLandslidesStrong windLightningAvalanches

Not a risk here

Coastal floodingDroughtTsunamisVolcanic activity

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.

Flood insurance claims

Does Pennington Gap flood?

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Pennington Gap, from FEMA’s records.

9paid claims since 1978

$431Kpaid to owners

2homes flooded more than once

19782026

Homes that flooded again and again

■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (0) ■ flooded 2+ times

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

No community discount. Pennington Gap isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Lee County.

Disasters that hit Pennington Gap

5 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

Disasters the President declared that paid out in Pennington Gap itself: aid to households, or repair grants to the Town of Pennington Gap.

Brought FEMA money into Pennington GapDeclared for Lee County only

2025

Severe Winter Storms and Flooding

$37K to the Town of Pennington Gap for repairs

2024

Tropical Storm Helene

20 households applied for aid $32K aid approved $67K to the Town of Pennington Gap for repairs

2004

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

32 households applied for aid $47K aid approved

2003

Severe Winter Storm, Record/Near Record Snowfall, Heavy Rain,floodind, and Mudslide

9 households applied for aid $8K aid approved

2002

Severe Storms and Flooding

$66K to the Town of Pennington Gap for repairs

Lee County has had 17 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often severe storms and winter storms.

About these numbers

How to read this page

An average, not a forecastFEMA’s National Risk Index estimates the damage 18 kinds of natural hazards cause in a typical year, from decades of records and models. A quiet decade can follow a bad year.

Compared by rate“Higher than N%” compares yearly damage as a share of what’s here, so a big city isn’t rated riskier just for having more buildings. Pennington Gap covers 1 census tract, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Pennington Gap’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the Town of Pennington Gap. FEMA’s model follows property values, so a place that recently lost many homes can rate lower than it feels.

FEMA’s expected losses across Pennington Gap total about $882K a year, counting buildings, people and crops.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025); OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Census tracts: U.S. Census Bureau.