Natural Disaster Risk in Big Rock
Virginia
Risk Summary for Big Rock
Big Rock scores 4.9/10 (Moderate risk), near the U.S. average of 4.5. The leading hazard is Landslide.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Scores
How it compares
Live Conditions
🏠 What this means for insurance
Average risk — standard coverage usually sufficient
This area carries average natural disaster risk. A standard homeowners or renters policy should cover common events, but review the exclusions for floods and earthquakes, which are almost never included by default.
This is general information only. Consult a licensed insurance professional for advice specific to your property.
Natural Hazard Profile: Big Rock, Virginia
Big Rock, in Buchanan County, is a small community of about 632 situated in the interior eastern United States. Its humid subtropical climate brings hot, humid summers and four distinct seasons, and in particular hurricane and nor'easter exposure. These conditions collectively define the natural hazard environment that Big Rock residents and property owners must navigate.
Big Rock's overall natural disaster risk is rated 4.9/10 (Moderate) by FEMA's National Risk Index. The area faces significant landslide risk, where mountainous topography and saturated soils during wet periods combine to create hazardous mass movement conditions. Secondary hazards include avalanche and wildfire.
Within Virginia, Big Rock's risk is, near the 5.1/10 state average. Nationally, it ranks near the U.S. national average of 4.5/10. FEMA's analysis of Buchanan County identifies landslide as the foremost hazard, followed by avalanche and wildfire. These rankings reflect the relative frequency and severity of each hazard type in the local environment.
Big Rock's moderate risk profile means that while catastrophic events are less frequent, they do occur. Standard homeowners insurance typically covers many common hazards here, but confirming that landslide exposure is adequately protected is a worthwhile step for property owners.
What this means for Big Rock: Landslide preparedness
- Have an evacuation plan ready during periods of intense or prolonged rainfall.
- Watch for warning signs such as new cracks, tilting trees, or changes in water drainage on slopes.
- Standard insurance generally excludes landslide and earth-movement damage — ask about specialized coverage.
Local Factors for Big Rock
These city-level factors differentiate Big Rock from other communities in Buchanan County and provide geographic context for its hazard exposure.
Population
632
RuralGeographic Zone
Inland
Reduced coastal hazard exposure
Climate Band
Moderate Continental
Latitude 37.4°
Flood Terrain
Minimal — county topography limits flood risk
Flood score: 1.0/10
Wildfire Exposure
Moderate — seasonal fire risk
Fire score: 7.6/10
Coordinates
37.3561° N, 82.1914° W
Buchanan County
Population and coordinates from SimpleMaps US Cities data. Hazard scores from FEMA National Risk Index. Geographic classification derived from coordinates.
Recent Climate Data for Big Rock
Last 12 months · Source: Open-Meteo archive
Notable Weather Days (last 12 months)
ZIP Codes in Big Rock
Other cities in Virginia
Data source: FEMA National Risk Index (NRI). Scores normalized to 1–10 across all US counties. City scores inherit county-level FEMA data. For informational purposes only.