Putnam County, West Virginia Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · WV
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 74th
Putnam County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 74.0, 74th national percentile), driven primarily by landslide and riverine flood exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $34M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Putnam County at low composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 74.0 out of 100 — placing it in the 74th 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.
Most of Putnam County's expected losses come from landslide (downhill movement of rock, soil, and debris on unstable slopes) at Medium risk — $56K in expected annual loss and about 0.89 events per year; riverine flood (rivers and streams overflowing their banks after heavy rain or snowmelt) at Medium risk — $30M in expected annual loss and about 2.29 events per year; and heat wave (prolonged periods of extreme heat that threaten health and infrastructure) at Medium risk — $2M in expected annual loss and about 4.47 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $34M in expected annual loss for a population of 57K.
Beyond physical exposure, Putnam County has a low social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a medium community resilience rating (its capacity to prepare for and recover from disasters). Both measures sit toward the lower end, indicating relatively modest population sensitivity.
The county's disaster history tells the same story: Putnam County has received 24 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, Putnam County ranks #8 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Landslide | Medium | 0.89 / yr | $56K |
| Riverine Flood | Medium | 2.29 / yr | $30M |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 4.47 / yr | $2M |
| Ice Storm | Medium | 0.41 / yr | $191K |
| Lightning | Low | 47.62 / yr | $264K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.03 / yr | $87K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $50K |
| Drought | Low | 4.66 / yr | $118K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $190K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 8.58 / yr | $47K |
| Hail | Low | 2.95 / yr | $175K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 1.06 / yr | $329K |
| Tornado | Very Low | 0.05 / yr | $223K |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 0.79 / yr | $147K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| 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
Putnam County has received 24 federal disaster declarations since 1967, most recently Severe Winter Storm in January 2026. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (11), Flood (4), Biological (2).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| January 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| May 2024 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| May 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| April 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| March 2015 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| January 2014 | Chemical | Chemical Spill |
| October 2012 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| July 2012 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Straight-Line Winds |
| June 2012 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms |
Showing the 10 most recent of 24 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Putnam County?
Putnam County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 74.0 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 74th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Putnam County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Landslide (Medium, $56K EAL), Riverine Flood (Medium, $30M EAL), Heat Wave (Medium, $2M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Putnam County compare to other West Virginia counties?
Putnam County ranks #8 of 55 West Virginia counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Putnam County had?
FEMA records 24 federal disaster declarations for Putnam 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. Putnam County's $34M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.