Kanawha County
West Virginia — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
HighComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 95th
Kanawha County faces high composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 94.5, 95th national percentile), driven primarily by riverine flood and landslide exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $143M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Riverine Flood | High | 4.21 / yr | $133M |
| Landslide | Medium | 2.49 / yr | $159K |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 4.16 / yr | $3M |
| Lightning | High | 47.70 / yr | $1M |
| Strong Wind | High | 0.87 / yr | $2M |
| Winter Weather | High | 9.63 / yr | $288K |
| Hail | Medium | 2.87 / yr | $921K |
| Ice Storm | Medium | 0.22 / yr | $409K |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $1M |
| Avalanche | Low | 0.01 / yr | $13K |
| Hurricane | Low | 0.02 / yr | $294K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $83K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.08 / yr | $600K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 0.74 / yr | $412K |
| Drought | Very Low | 3.04 / yr | $7K |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Kanawha County?
Kanawha County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 94.5 out of 100, placing it in the High category and the 95th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Kanawha County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Riverine Flood (High, $133M EAL), Landslide (Medium, $159K EAL), Heat Wave (Medium, $3M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Kanawha County compare to other West Virginia counties?
Kanawha County ranks #1 of 55 West Virginia counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a high rating.
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. Kanawha County's $143M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.