Hurricane Preparedness: Virginia

Information by State  Print version   Sample Radar Image of a Hurricane

US Department of HUD
Richmond Field Office
(804) 771-2100 or (800) 842-2610

Hurricane: A severe tropical cyclone with wind speeds in excess of 74 mph. As they move ashore, they bring high winds, tornadoes, torrential rains, and flooding.

Hurricane Season: The Atlantic hurricane season is officially from June 1st to November 30th. There is nothing magical in these dates and hurricanes have occurred outside of these six months. These dates do, however, encompass over 97% of tropical activity. June 1st has been the traditional start of the Atlantic hurricane season for decades. However, the end date has been slowly shifted later - from October 31st to November 15th to its current date of November 30th.

The peak hurricane season in the Atlantic basin occurs from August through October, with 78% of the tropical storm days, 87% of the minor (Saffir-Simpson Scale categories 1 and 2 - see Subject D1) hurricane days, and 96% of the major (Saffir-Simpson categories 3, 4 and 5) hurricane days occurring then (Landsea 1993). Maximum activity is in early to mid September. Once every few years there may be a tropical cyclone occurring "out of season" - primarily in May or December. (For more detailed information, see Subject G12 - "What is my chance of having a tropical storm or hurricane strike by each month?")

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FEMA Hurricane Information

	Before a hurricane
	During an evacuation
	During a hurricane
	After a hurricane
	Mitigate hurricane damages - Learn what ideas, activities/projects and funding sources people like you used to help reduce or prevent the impacts of hurricanes and tropical storms.

	Hurricane Winds
	Flooding/Heavy Winds
	Storm Surge
	Tornadoes
	Hurricane Photos

	Current storm watch information
	Forecast Updates

	National Hurricane Program
	Hurricane maps
	HAZUS - Software that estimates potential losses from hurricanes

	Red Cross
	Preparado para un huracan - Red Cross en espanol

	Alexandria Chapter, Alexandria
	Arlington County Chapter, Arlington
	Historic Virginia Chapter, Bedford
	Mountain Empire Chapter, Bristol
	Central Virginia Chapter, Charlottesville
	Rappahannock Area Chapter, Fredericksburg
	Halifax County Chapter, Halifax
	Hampton Roads Chapter, Newport News
	Loudoun County Chapter, Leesburg
	Martinsville-Henry County Chapter, Martinsville
	Montgomery-Floyd Chapter, Blacksburg
	Prince William County Chapter, Manassas
	Radford Chapter, Radford
	Greater Richmond Chapter, Richmond
	Roanoke Valley Chapter, Roanoke
	Shenandoah County Chapter, Woodstock
	Southside Area Chapter, Petersburg
	Suffolk Chapter, Suffolk
	Southeastern Virginia Chapter, Norfolk
	Colonial Virginia Chapter, Williamsburg
	Winchester - Frederick County Chapter, Winchester
	York-Poquoson Chapter, Yorktown
	American Red Cross of the National Capital Area, Fairfax

HUD Disaster Recovery Assistance