Raleigh County, West Virginia Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · WV
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 66th
Raleigh County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 65.5, 66th national percentile), driven primarily by landslide and riverine flood exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $20M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Raleigh County carries a low composite natural disaster risk, with a National Risk Index score of 65.5 out of 100 — placing it in the 66th 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 Raleigh County's expected losses come from landslide (downhill movement of rock, soil, and debris on unstable slopes) at Medium risk — $61K in expected annual loss and about 1.70 events per year; riverine flood (rivers and streams overflowing their banks after heavy rain or snowmelt) at Medium risk — $16M in expected annual loss and about 1.68 events per year; and winter weather (heavy snow, blizzards, and hazardous winter conditions) at Medium risk — $161K in expected annual loss and about 14.72 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $20M in expected annual loss for a population of 75K.
Beyond physical exposure, Raleigh 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.
The county's disaster history tells the same story: Raleigh County has received 29 federal disaster declarations since 1967, including 11 for severe storm events and 7 for flood events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in January 2026.
Among 55 West Virginia counties, Raleigh County ranks #17 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Landslide | Medium | 1.70 / yr | $61K |
| Riverine Flood | Medium | 1.68 / yr | $16M |
| Winter Weather | Medium | 14.72 / yr | $161K |
| Lightning | Medium | 46.01 / yr | $540K |
| Avalanche | Low | 0.01 / yr | $13K |
| Wildfire | Low | 0.00 / yr | $211K |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $649K |
| Ice Storm | Medium | 0.40 / yr | $122K |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 1.32 / yr | $585K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.02 / yr | $77K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 1.98 / yr | $760K |
| Hail | Low | 2.98 / yr | $172K |
| Drought | Very Low | 0.83 / yr | $2K |
| Tornado | Very Low | 0.04 / yr | $122K |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 0.16 / yr | $24K |
| 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
Raleigh County has received 29 federal disaster declarations since 1967, most recently Severe Winter Storm in January 2026. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (11), Flood (7), Hurricane (3).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| January 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| February 2025 | Severe Storm | Severe Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| April 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| March 2015 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| November 2012 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| October 2012 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| July 2012 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Straight-Line Winds |
| June 2012 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms |
| March 2010 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Landslides |
Showing the 10 most recent of 29 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Raleigh County?
Raleigh County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 65.5 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 66th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Raleigh County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Landslide (Medium, $61K EAL), Riverine Flood (Medium, $16M EAL), Winter Weather (Medium, $161K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Raleigh County compare to other West Virginia counties?
Raleigh County ranks #17 of 55 West Virginia counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Raleigh County had?
FEMA records 29 federal disaster declarations for Raleigh County since 1967, most often 11 for severe storm events and 7 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. Raleigh County's $20M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.