Kanawha County, West Virginia Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · WV
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
Risk Overview
Kanawha County carries a high composite natural disaster risk, with a National Risk Index score of 94.5 out of 100 — placing it in the 95th national percentile and in the upper tier of natural-disaster risk nationally. 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 riverine flood (rivers and streams overflowing their banks after heavy rain or snowmelt) at High risk — $133M in expected annual loss and about 4.21 events per year; landslide (downhill movement of rock, soil, and debris on unstable slopes) at Medium risk — $159K in expected annual loss and about 2.49 events per year; and heat wave (prolonged periods of extreme heat that threaten health and infrastructure) at Medium risk — $3M in expected annual loss and about 4.16 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $143M in expected annual loss for a population of 181K.
Beyond physical exposure, Kanawha County has a medium social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a very high community resilience rating (its capacity to prepare for and recover from disasters). A less vulnerable population paired with strong resilience helps the community absorb and recover from events.
History supports the rating: Kanawha County has received 34 federal disaster declarations since 1967, including 13 for severe storm events and 10 for flood events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in January 2026.
Among 55 West Virginia counties, Kanawha County ranks #1 for overall natural disaster risk.
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 |
Disaster History
Kanawha County has received 34 federal disaster declarations since 1967, most recently Severe Winter Storm in January 2026. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (13), Flood (10), Hurricane (3).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| January 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| May 2024 | Flood | Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| May 2024 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| January 2024 | Flood | Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| May 2021 | Flood | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 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 |
| January 2014 | Chemical | Chemical Spill |
Showing the 10 most recent of 34 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
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.
How many federally declared disasters has Kanawha County had?
FEMA records 34 federal disaster declarations for Kanawha County since 1967, most often 13 for severe storm events and 10 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. Kanawha County's $143M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.