Fayette County, West Virginia Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · WV
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 53th
Fayette County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 53.4, 53th national percentile), driven primarily by lightning and landslide exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $14M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Fayette County at low composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 53.4 out of 100 — placing it in the 53rd national percentile and below the national average for natural-disaster risk. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
The county's risk is driven primarily by lightning (electrical discharges from storms that ignite fires and cause casualties) at High risk — $1M in expected annual loss and about 46.73 events per year; landslide (downhill movement of rock, soil, and debris on unstable slopes) at Medium risk — $42K in expected annual loss and about 1.81 events per year; and avalanche (fast-moving snow and debris sliding down steep mountain slopes) at Low risk — $19K in expected annual loss and about 0.01 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $14M in expected annual loss for a population of 40K.
Beyond physical exposure, Fayette County has a high social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a low community resilience rating (its capacity to prepare for and recover from disasters). That combination — a more vulnerable population with limited resilience — can amplify the human cost of any given event.
The federal record bears this out: Fayette County has received 25 federal disaster declarations since 1967, including 11 for severe storm events and 4 for flood events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in January 2026.
Among 55 West Virginia counties, Fayette County ranks #27 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Lightning | High | 46.73 / yr | $1M |
| Landslide | Medium | 1.81 / yr | $42K |
| Avalanche | Low | 0.01 / yr | $19K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 1.50 / yr | $12M |
| Winter Weather | Medium | 14.98 / yr | $77K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $251K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $37K |
| Ice Storm | Low | 0.26 / yr | $52K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $29K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 1.00 / yr | $315K |
| Hail | Very Low | 2.63 / yr | $97K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 1.97 / yr | $285K |
| Drought | Very Low | 0.94 / yr | $2K |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 0.18 / yr | $19K |
| Tornado | Very Low | 0.04 / yr | $60K |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Disaster History
Fayette County has received 25 federal disaster declarations since 1967, most recently Severe Winter Storm in January 2026. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (11), Flood (4), Hurricane (3).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| January 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| May 2024 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| November 2022 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| April 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| June 2016 | Flood | Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| March 2015 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| November 2012 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| October 2012 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| July 2012 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Straight-Line Winds |
Showing the 10 most recent of 25 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Fayette County?
Fayette County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 53.4 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 53th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Fayette County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Lightning (High, $1M EAL), Landslide (Medium, $42K EAL), Avalanche (Low, $19K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Fayette County compare to other West Virginia counties?
Fayette County ranks #27 of 55 West Virginia counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Fayette County had?
FEMA records 25 federal disaster declarations for Fayette County since 1967, most often 11 for severe storm events and 4 for flood events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm, declared in January 2026.
What does Expected Annual Loss (EAL) mean?
EAL is FEMA's estimate of average annual dollar losses from natural hazards, calculated from historical event data and exposure models. Fayette County's $14M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.