Drought Risk in West Virginia
All West Virginia counties ranked by FEMA National Risk Index drought score
Drought risk — extended dry periods that stress water supplies and agriculture — is rated for 48 of 55 West Virginia counties in FEMA's National Risk Index. Jefferson County carries the state's highest drought score at 76.1, with $906K in expected annual drought losses.
No West Virginia county reaches the High band for drought, and expected annual losses from drought total roughly $3M statewide. The full ranking below links to each county's complete 18-hazard risk profile.
County Rankings — Drought
| # | County | Drought Score | Rating | Ann. Freq. | Ann. Loss |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jefferson County | Medium | 4.40 / yr | $906K | |
| 2 | Berkeley County | Medium | 4.01 / yr | $627K | |
| 3 | Mason County | Low | 4.69 / yr | $210K | |
| 4 | Hampshire County | Low | 3.82 / yr | $229K | |
| 5 | Hardy County | Low | 3.79 / yr | $136K | |
| 6 | Morgan County | Low | 3.91 / yr | $126K | |
| 7 | Mineral County | Low | 3.46 / yr | $132K | |
| 8 | Pendleton County | Low | 2.59 / yr | $121K | |
| 9 | Putnam County | Low | 4.66 / yr | $118K | |
| 10 | Grant County | Low | 4.63 / yr | $74K | |
| 11 | Roane County | Low | 5.71 / yr | $58K | |
| 12 | Upshur County | Low | 3.71 / yr | $66K | |
| 13 | Barbour County | Low | 3.86 / yr | $54K | |
| 14 | Marshall County | Low | 3.60 / yr | $47K | |
| 15 | Harrison County | Low | 2.93 / yr | $37K | |
| 16 | Cabell County | Low | 3.48 / yr | $36K | |
| 17 | Monroe County | Low | 0.96 / yr | $28K | |
| 18 | Ritchie County | Low | 3.68 / yr | $39K | |
| 19 | Pocahontas County | Low | 2.60 / yr | $29K | |
| 20 | Jackson County | Low | 5.98 / yr | $30K | |
| 21 | Braxton County | Low | 6.38 / yr | $29K | |
| 22 | Lewis County | Low | 3.83 / yr | $31K | |
| 23 | Tyler County | Low | 3.34 / yr | $22K | |
| 24 | Calhoun County | Very Low | 7.48 / yr | $21K | |
| 25 | Randolph County | Very Low | 5.08 / yr | $26K | |
| 26 | Preston County | Very Low | 2.54 / yr | $18K | |
| 27 | Tucker County | Very Low | 5.21 / yr | $18K | |
| 28 | Wood County | Very Low | 2.95 / yr | $16K | |
| 29 | Summers County | Very Low | 0.93 / yr | $11K | |
| 30 | Ohio County | Very Low | 3.60 / yr | $18K | |
| 31 | Marion County | Very Low | 2.58 / yr | $15K | |
| 32 | Nicholas County | Very Low | 1.85 / yr | $11K | |
| 33 | Greenbrier County | Very Low | 1.36 / yr | $11K | |
| 34 | Wetzel County | Very Low | 3.05 / yr | $13K | |
| 35 | Wirt County | Very Low | 6.44 / yr | $13K | |
| 36 | Pleasants County | Very Low | 3.05 / yr | $10K | |
| 37 | Mercer County | Very Low | 0.61 / yr | $9K | |
| 38 | Wayne County | Very Low | 2.39 / yr | $7K | |
| 39 | Lincoln County | Very Low | 3.25 / yr | $7K | |
| 40 | Gilmer County | Very Low | 6.66 / yr | $10K | |
| 41 | Kanawha County | Very Low | 3.04 / yr | $7K | |
| 42 | Clay County | Very Low | 4.32 / yr | $5K | |
| 43 | Brooke County | Very Low | 1.32 / yr | $5K | |
| 44 | Monongalia County | Very Low | 1.65 / yr | $7K | |
| 45 | Raleigh County | Very Low | 0.83 / yr | $2K | |
| 46 | Fayette County | Very Low | 0.94 / yr | $2K | |
| 47 | Wyoming County | Very Low | 1.32 / yr | $367 | |
| 48 | Mingo County | Very Low | 1.46 / yr | $88 |
48 West Virginia counties with measurable drought risk. See the national drought ranking or all West Virginia counties by overall risk.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which West Virginia county has the highest drought risk?
Jefferson County has the highest FEMA drought risk score in West Virginia at 76.1 (Medium), with $906K in expected annual losses and about 4.40 events per year.
How many West Virginia counties face significant drought risk?
48 West Virginia counties record measurable drought risk in FEMA's National Risk Index; 0 of them are rated High or Very High.