West Virginia natural disaster risk
West Virginia ranks #7 of 51 from the lowest population-weighted county-score mean in our state comparison. Its highest hazard-score means are landslide, riverine flooding, lightning.
RelocateMath computes these state means by weighting FEMA county scores by population. A mean of county percentiles is not a national state percentile or an official FEMA state rating.
The vertical line marks county-score scale midpoint (50).
Find your county's risk in West Virginia
All 55 county rows with a FEMA score are available below, initially ordered by population.
| County | Population | Risk score | FEMA rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kanawha County | 176,537 | 94.5 | Relatively High |
| Berkeley County | 129,514 | 68.3 | Relatively Low |
| Monongalia County | 107,163 | 71.5 | Relatively Low |
| Cabell County | 92,739 | 85.4 | Relatively Moderate |
| Wood County | 83,407 | 79.8 | Relatively Low |
| Raleigh County | 73,195 | 65.5 | Relatively Low |
| Harrison County | 64,984 | 73.6 | Relatively Low |
| Jefferson County | 59,260 | 47.8 | Relatively Low |
| Mercer County | 58,563 | 65.2 | Relatively Low |
| Putnam County | 57,177 | 74.0 | Relatively Low |
| Marion County | 55,909 | 71.5 | Relatively Low |
| Ohio County | 41,582 | 69.8 | Relatively Low |
| Fayette County | 39,519 | 53.4 | Relatively Low |
| Wayne County | 38,164 | 79.8 | Relatively Low |
| Preston County | 34,160 | 33.8 | Very Low |
| Greenbrier County | 32,386 | 75.8 | Relatively Low |
| Logan County | 31,418 | 79.2 | Relatively Low |
| Marshall County | 29,865 | 56.8 | Relatively Low |
| Hancock County | 28,431 | 40.7 | Very Low |
| Jackson County | 27,705 | 56.5 | Relatively Low |
| Randolph County | 27,576 | 57.1 | Relatively Low |
| Mineral County | 26,854 | 52.8 | Relatively Low |
| Mason County | 25,043 | 57.4 | Relatively Low |
| Nicholas County | 24,277 | 58.2 | Relatively Low |
| Upshur County | 23,712 | 44.8 | Relatively Low |
| Hampshire County | 23,465 | 38.0 | Very Low |
| Mingo County | 22,542 | 72.6 | Relatively Low |
| Brooke County | 21,805 | 54.2 | Relatively Low |
| Boone County | 21,026 | 69.4 | Relatively Low |
| Wyoming County | 20,629 | 67.4 | Relatively Low |
| Lincoln County | 19,902 | 59.7 | Relatively Low |
| McDowell County | 17,943 | 76.7 | Relatively Low |
| Morgan County | 17,426 | 30.4 | Very Low |
| Lewis County | 16,740 | 43.7 | Relatively Low |
| Taylor County | 16,487 | 23.5 | Very Low |
| Barbour County | 15,424 | 24.0 | Very Low |
| Hardy County | 14,243 | 42.5 | Very Low |
| Wetzel County | 14,078 | 56.9 | Relatively Low |
| Roane County | 13,786 | 45.0 | Relatively Low |
| Monroe County | 12,386 | 28.3 | Very Low |
| Braxton County | 12,208 | 36.2 | Very Low |
| Summers County | 11,729 | 40.2 | Very Low |
| Grant County | 10,983 | 33.2 | Very Low |
| Ritchie County | 8,286 | 16.1 | Very Low |
| Webster County | 8,144 | 35.3 | Very Low |
| Tyler County | 8,064 | 35.6 | Very Low |
| Clay County | 7,835 | 22.3 | Very Low |
| Pocahontas County | 7,784 | 27.5 | Very Low |
| Doddridge County | 7,711 | 14.4 | Very Low |
| Pleasants County | 7,521 | 20.3 | Very Low |
| Gilmer County | 7,288 | 11.5 | Very Low |
| Tucker County | 6,654 | 12.6 | Very Low |
| Calhoun County | 6,048 | 16.8 | Very Low |
| Pendleton County | 6,043 | 30.1 | Very Low |
| Wirt County | 5,053 | 9.0 | Very Low |
The county rows show FEMA's own county percentile scores and rating categories; the state figures above are our weighted means. County data cannot establish a property's safety. Expected loss is modeled annual loss per resident, not a premium quote. The insurance figure is what owners with a mortgage reported paying in 2024 (Census American Community Survey), not a current quote. For a specific home, check the address on FEMA's flood map and get insurance quotes before you commit. Our guide explains how to check natural disaster risk before you move.
Lowest FEMA county risk scores in West Virginia
- Preston County 33.8
- Hampshire County 38.0
- Hancock County 40.7
- Upshur County 44.8
- Jefferson County 47.8
- Mineral County 52.8
- Fayette County 53.4
- Brooke County 54.2
Cities in West Virginia
- Washington, D.C. county-score mean 82.9
Frequently asked questions
Is West Virginia safe from natural disasters?
West Virginia's population-weighted county-score mean is 64.4 out of 100 (high county-score mean), #7 of 51 from the lowest mean in our state comparison. A state average cannot show whether an individual home is safe. About 10% of residents live in counties FEMA rates relatively high or very high.
What natural disasters happen in West Virginia?
The highest population-weighted county hazard-score means in West Virginia are landslide, riverine flooding, lightning (means 87, 79, 60 on the 0–100 county-score scale). These are not national state percentiles.
Which counties have the lowest modeled risk scores in West Virginia?
Among counties with at least 20,000 people, the lowest FEMA county risk scores are in Preston County, Hampshire County, Hancock County. Conditions vary within each county; check an individual address separately.