Flood zones, flood insurance and FEMA help, in plain English

West Virginia flood insurance and flood history

From FEMA's flood insurance and disaster data · Updated 2026-10-08

FEMA disaster assistance is open in West Virginia

  • Closed DR-4932-WV: Severe Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides. Apply by October 17, 2026.The deadline to apply was October 17, 2026.
  • Closed DR-4953-WV: Severe Storms and Flooding. Apply by December 7, 2026.The deadline to apply was December 7, 2026.

Only the counties FEMA designated for individual assistance are covered. The declaration page lists them.

Apply at DisasterAssistance.gov How FEMA assistance works

27,998NFIP flood claims since 1978
$386.7 millionPaid on those claims
$31,940Average paid claimlast 10 years
1.0%Homes with NFIP flood insurance
$1,310Typical yearly NFIP costsingle-family home
38Flood disaster declarationssince 2000

FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) data lists 27,998 flood insurance claims in West Virginia since 1978. The NFIP paid $386.7 million on them (building, contents and Increased Cost of Compliance payments, in the dollars of the year paid).

The year with the most claims was 1996, with 4,258, mostly from Flooding.

In the last ten years (2017–2026) there were 1,812 claims, and the average paid claim was $31,940.

20% of the claims with a recorded flood zone came from buildings outside FEMA's high-risk zones (rated zones B, C and X).

About 1.0% of homes in West Virginia had an NFIP flood policy in FEMA's latest count (7,746 of 763,535 residential buildings). In the high-risk flood zones (Special Flood Hazard Areas), it was 10% (6,324 of 61,606).

Since 2000, FEMA has made 38 flood-related disaster declarations covering parts of West Virginia. The most recent was DR-4953-WV (Severe Storms and Flooding), declared October 7, 2026.

Flood insurance claims in West Virginia by year

NFIP flood claims per year in West Virginia, 1978 to 202601.2k2.5k3.8k5k1978: 1,986 claims, $7.1 million paid1979: 754 claims, $2.5 million paid1980: 998 claims, $4.0 million paid19801981: 419 claims, $1.0 million paid1982: 194 claims, $296,737 paid1983: 43 claims, $39,661 paid1984: 1,338 claims, $20.9 million paid1985: 1,756 claims, $23.0 million paid1986: 25 claims, $61,488 paid1987: 98 claims, $283,557 paid1988: 7 claims, $107,137 paid1989: 429 claims, $1.6 million paid1990: 217 claims, $1.3 million paid19901991: 159 claims, $703,007 paid1992: 44 claims, $163,083 paid1993: 43 claims, $114,188 paid1994: 778 claims, $5.4 million paid1995: 147 claims, $2.0 million paid1996: 4,258 claims, $63.0 million paid1997: 769 claims, $8.3 million paid1998: 496 claims, $6.7 million paid1999: 39 claims, $189,794 paid2000: 497 claims, $3.5 million paid20002001: 930 claims, $13.5 million paid2002: 607 claims, $5.7 million paid2003: 1,961 claims, $21.4 million paid2004: 2,810 claims, $49.5 million paid2005: 535 claims, $4.7 million paid2006: 76 claims, $886,770 paid2007: 358 claims, $6.5 million paid2008: 194 claims, $2.6 million paid2009: 464 claims, $8.5 million paid2010: 791 claims, $12.4 million paid20102011: 139 claims, $984,304 paid2012: 222 claims, $5.2 million paid2013: 136 claims, $2.1 million paid2014: 73 claims, $558,489 paid2015: 292 claims, $4.4 million paid2016: 1,104 claims, $48.9 million paid2017: 171 claims, $3.6 million paid2018: 252 claims, $6.2 million paid2019: 47 claims, $352,025 paid2020: 69 claims, $910,750 paid20202021: 244 claims, $6.0 million paid2022: 172 claims, $4.8 million paid2023: 58 claims, $1.5 million paid2024: 192 claims, $4.2 million paid2025: 440 claims, $16.7 million paid2026: 167 claims, $2.4 million paid
NFIP claims per year by year of loss. Hover or tap a bar for the count and amount paid. 2026 is partial.
Show as a table
YearClaimsPaid
2026167$2.4 million
2025440$16.7 million
2024192$4.2 million
202358$1.5 million
2022172$4.8 million
2021244$6.0 million
202069$910,750
201947$352,025
2018252$6.2 million
2017171$3.6 million
20161,104$48.9 million
2015292$4.4 million
201473$558,489
2013136$2.1 million
2012222$5.2 million
2011139$984,304
2010791$12.4 million
2009464$8.5 million
2008194$2.6 million
2007358$6.5 million
200676$886,770
2005535$4.7 million
20042,810$49.5 million
20031,961$21.4 million
2002607$5.7 million
2001930$13.5 million
2000497$3.5 million
199939$189,794
1998496$6.7 million
1997769$8.3 million
19964,258$63.0 million
1995147$2.0 million
1994778$5.4 million
199343$114,188
199244$163,083
1991159$703,007
1990217$1.3 million
1989429$1.6 million
19887$107,137
198798$283,557
198625$61,488
19851,756$23.0 million
19841,338$20.9 million
198343$39,661
1982194$296,737
1981419$1.0 million
1980998$4.0 million
1979754$2.5 million
19781,986$7.1 million

Biggest flood events by NFIP payments

The flood events FEMA's claims data names most often for West Virginia, ranked by what the NFIP paid. FEMA names events in its claims records; claims without an event name aren't included here.

EventYearClaimsPaid
Summer severe storms2016997$46.8 million
Tropical Storm Ivan20041,959$35.2 million
Flooding19962,118$34.7 million
Flooding19851,317$21.3 million
Flooding19841,210$20.5 million
Hurricane Fran1996582$10.9 million
February West Virginia Flooding2025256$10.1 million
Flooding1997649$7.7 million
Storm2009291$6.9 million
Flooding1998357$5.9 million

What flood insurance costs in West Virginia

On June 30, 2026, 9,093 NFIP flood insurance policies were in force in West Virginia. For the 5,985 single-family homes among them, the typical (median) yearly cost was about $1,310; the average was $1,630.

Rated flood zonePoliciesTypical yearly cost, single-family homeAverage costAverage building coverage
High-risk zones (A and V)7,279$1,460$1,760$123,000
Moderate- and low-risk zones (B, C and X)1,813$1,090$1,150$183,000

Cost here is what FEMA's data lists as the policy cost: the premium plus the reserve fund assessment, federal policy fee and HFIAA surcharge. It covers single-family homes only (not condos, apartments or businesses), with costs rounded to the nearest $10 and shown only where at least 20 homes back the figure. Your own price depends on your building and the coverage you choose; see how flood insurance is priced. Private flood insurance isn't included.

Policies and average cost by exact flood zone
Rated zonePoliciesAverage cost, single-family home
AE4,857$1,730
A2,376$1,830
X1,786$1,140
C22n/a
AO18n/a
A067n/a
A177n/a
B5n/a
A073n/a
A043n/a
A082n/a
A162n/a
A181n/a
A111n/a
A021n/a

Flood history by county

Every West Virginia county in FEMA's data, sorted by number of NFIP claims since 1978. "Insured" is the share of homes with an NFIP policy; "typical NFIP cost" is the median yearly cost for single-family homes.

CountyClaimsPaidInsuredTypical NFIP costFlood declarations
Ohio County3,123$33.8 million3.4%$1,3909
Kanawha County2,479$43.2 million1.5%$1,44016
Logan County2,149$31.8 million2.4%$1,31017
Mingo County1,679$30.4 million3.9%$1,16016
McDowell County1,050$9.7 million4.6%$1,34012
Wood County947$13.2 million0.6%$1,2405
Greenbrier County943$25.7 million1.4%$1,3107
Wyoming County923$14.2 million2.9%$1,21011
Cabell County807$11.4 million0.9%$1,36014
Harrison County786$5.7 million0.5%$1,39011
Pocahontas County706$15.1 million2.0%$1,2905
Marshall County541$4.3 million0.8%$1,39010
Randolph County536$4.7 million1.1%$1,2605
Wetzel County498$6.4 million1.6%$1,36013
Brooke County488$6.4 million1.0%$1,3907
Raleigh County479$4.5 million0.3%$1,1909
Boone County477$3.9 million1.5%$1,39014
Wayne County469$4.3 million1.0%$1,29015
Gilmer County455$5.2 million1.3%$1,21011
Mercer County437$5.2 million0.8%$1,2109
Upshur County417$3.1 million1.0%$1,2108
Barbour County377$3.5 million0.6%$1,4106
Marion County371$5.8 million0.5%$1,6909
Tucker County369$7.1 million1.7%$1,2608
Hancock County365$4.0 million0.6%$1,7106
Monongalia County361$3.2 million0.3%$1,2908
Lincoln County344$4.3 million0.9%$1,26020
Lewis County333$3.0 million0.8%$1,26012
Berkeley County312$4.9 million0.3%$1,0603
Summers County312$5.7 million1.2%$1,2409
Jackson County311$4.5 million0.7%$1,26010
Fayette County298$3.2 million0.6%$1,21011
Putnam County290$3.3 million1.2%$1,26010
Calhoun County264$2.4 million1.0%$1,61010
Hampshire County261$4.2 million0.8%$1,5402
Nicholas County216$8.7 million0.6%$1,6908
Morgan County204$3.1 million1.0%$1,3603
Webster County199$2.5 million1.4%$1,1908
Mineral County192$1.9 million0.9%$1,3402
Roane County189$3.3 million1.3%$1,34013
Hardy County188$3.4 million0.6%$1,1903
Grant County155$2.9 million0.5%$1,4104
Jefferson County143$1.8 million0.8%$1,2603
Mason County140$1.1 million0.6%$1,0608
Preston County99$825,2400.4%$1,3109
Monroe County89$1.7 million0.3%$1,3104
Clay County76$1.6 million1.3%$1,2109
Pendleton County67$442,4791.0%$1,2406
Wirt County67$535,0080.5%n/a9
Ritchie County65$440,8010.4%n/a9
Tyler County59$378,3070.6%$1,59012
Doddridge County52$476,7300.9%$1,39012
Taylor County50$737,4630.4%$1,1608
Pleasants County43$535,9020.8%$1,1105
Braxton County40$509,1390.5%$1,2409

Flood-related FEMA disaster declarations in West Virginia

Declarations since 2000 that FEMA lists as involving flooding. "Help for individuals" means FEMA's Individual Assistance was approved for at least part of the area.

DeclarationDeclaredEventHelp for individuals
DR-4953-WV Oct 7, 2026 Severe Storms and Flooding Apply by Dec 7, 2026 →Closed Dec 7, 2026
DR-4932-WV Aug 3, 2026 Severe Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides Apply by Oct 17, 2026 →Closed Oct 17, 2026
DR-4884-WV Jul 22, 2025 Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides Yes
DR-4861-WV Feb 26, 2025 Severe Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides Yes
DR-4787-WV May 24, 2024 Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides Yes
DR-4783-WV May 22, 2024 Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides Yes
DR-4756-WV Jan 30, 2024 Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides Yes
DR-4679-WV Nov 28, 2022 Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides No
DR-4678-WV Nov 28, 2022 Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides No
DR-4605-WV May 20, 2021 Severe Storms and Flooding Yes
DR-4455-WV Aug 2, 2019 Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides No
DR-4378-WV Jul 12, 2018 Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides No
DR-4359-WV Apr 17, 2018 Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides No
DR-4331-WV Aug 18, 2017 Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides Yes
DR-4273-WV Jun 25, 2016 Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides Yes
DR-4236-WV Aug 7, 2015 Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides No
DR-4221-WV May 21, 2015 Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides No
DR-4220-WV May 18, 2015 Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides No
DR-4219-WV May 14, 2015 Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides No
DR-4210-WV Mar 31, 2015 Severe Winter Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides No
DR-4132-WV Jul 26, 2013 Severe Storms and Flooding No
DR-4061-WV Mar 22, 2012 Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Lanslides Yes
DR-4059-WV Mar 16, 2012 Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Mudslides, and Landslides Yes
DR-1918-WV Jun 24, 2010 Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Landslides Yes
DR-1893-WV Mar 29, 2010 Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Landslides Yes

Showing the 25 most recent of 38.

What to do with this

A county's history doesn't tell you your own building's risk. To see your property's flood zone, use FEMA's flood map lookup. To weigh coverage, start with do I need flood insurance? and what flood insurance costs.

Where these numbers come from

All figures on this page are calculated from FEMA's public OpenFEMA datasets:

FEMA's redacted claims data doesn't identify properties, and FEMA notes that some records lack a county or flood zone. See how we use the data.