Lewis County

West Virginia — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment

Low

Composite Risk Score

43.7

National percentile: 44th

Lewis County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 43.7, 44th national percentile), driven primarily by landslide and riverine flood exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $12M.

Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025

Expected Annual Loss $12M Annualized county-level EAL
Social Vulnerability Medium Population sensitivity
Community Resilience Medium Capacity to recover
Population 17K Latest estimate

Top Hazards

Landslide
Medium $44K/yr
Riverine Flood
Low $11M/yr
Hurricane
Very Low $50K/yr

All 18 Hazard Risks

Landslide Medium 1.01 / yr $44K
Riverine Flood Low 1.57 / yr $11M
Hurricane Very Low 0.02 / yr $50K
Lightning Low 46.74 / yr $149K
Drought Low 3.83 / yr $31K
Cold Wave Low 1.32 / yr $397K
Hail Very Low 1.88 / yr $96K
Winter Weather Low 9.79 / yr $24K
Earthquake Very Low 0.00 / yr $42K
Heat Wave Very Low 1.89 / yr $52K
Avalanche Very Low 0.01 / yr $29
Strong Wind Very Low 0.77 / yr $99K
Tornado Very Low 0.04 / yr $73K
Wildfire Very Low 0.00 / yr $2K
Ice Storm Very Low 0.02 / yr $2K
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 Lewis County?

Lewis County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 43.7 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 44th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.

What are the top natural hazards in Lewis County?

The three highest-rated hazards are Landslide (Medium, $44K EAL), Riverine Flood (Low, $11M EAL), Hurricane (Very Low, $50K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.

How does Lewis County compare to other West Virginia counties?

Lewis County ranks #32 of 55 West Virginia counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low 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. Lewis County's $12M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.