Morgan County, West Virginia Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · WV
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 30th
Morgan County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 30.4, 30th national percentile), driven primarily by landslide and hurricane exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $8M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in Morgan County is very low, with a National Risk Index score of 30.4 out of 100 — placing it in the 30th national percentile and among the lowest-risk counties in the country. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
Risk here concentrates in landslide (downhill movement of rock, soil, and debris on unstable slopes) at Low risk — $17K in expected annual loss and about 0.53 events per year; hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at Low risk — $209K in expected annual loss and about 0.05 events per year; and strong wind (damaging straight-line winds outside of tornadoes and hurricanes) at Medium risk — $569K in expected annual loss and about 4.27 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $8M in expected annual loss for a population of 17K.
Beyond physical exposure, Morgan 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.
History supports the rating: Morgan County has received 17 federal disaster declarations since 1972, including 5 for severe storm events and 3 for hurricane events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in January 2026.
Among 55 West Virginia counties, Morgan County ranks #42 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Landslide | Low | 0.53 / yr | $17K |
| Hurricane | Low | 0.05 / yr | $209K |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 4.27 / yr | $569K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 1.64 / yr | $6M |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $556 |
| Drought | Low | 3.91 / yr | $126K |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 3.21 / yr | $136K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $61K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 13.64 / yr | $23K |
| Hail | Very Low | 2.37 / yr | $63K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $6K |
| Lightning | Very Low | 37.81 / yr | $49K |
| Tornado | Very Low | 0.09 / yr | $163K |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 1.90 / yr | $103K |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.33 / yr | $3K |
| 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
Morgan County has received 17 federal disaster declarations since 1972, most recently Severe Winter Storm in January 2026. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (5), Hurricane (3), Snowstorm (3).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| January 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| April 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| July 2018 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| October 2012 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| June 2012 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms |
| April 2010 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storms and Snowstorms |
| September 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| September 2004 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides |
| September 2003 | Hurricane | Hurricane Isabel |
Showing the 10 most recent of 17 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Morgan County?
Morgan County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 30.4 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 30th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Morgan County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Landslide (Low, $17K EAL), Hurricane (Low, $209K EAL), Strong Wind (Medium, $569K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Morgan County compare to other West Virginia counties?
Morgan County ranks #42 of 55 West Virginia counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Morgan County had?
FEMA records 17 federal disaster declarations for Morgan County since 1972, most often 5 for severe storm events and 3 for hurricane 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. Morgan County's $8M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.