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Natural hazard risk in Lewis County, West Virginia

Updated October 30, 2026. Based on FEMA, NOAA and OpenFEMA data. Published by Humblebee.

FEMA overall Risk Index rating: Relatively Low (score 43.7 of 100)[5]

Expected annual loss (FEMA)
$11.9 million[1]
Federal disaster declarations since 1967
23[2]
NFIP flood claims paid, 1978 to 2026
$3.0 million[3]
Tornadoes recorded, 1950 to 2024
3[4]

FEMA's National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025) gives Lewis County an overall Risk Index rating of Relatively Low, with a score of 43.7 out of 100[5]. The hazards with the highest FEMA scores within the county are landslide, inland flooding and hurricane[6].

FEMA risk ratings for each hazard

Ratings and expected losses from the FEMA National Risk Index. Each rating compares this county with all US counties for that hazard, from Very Low to Very High. They are planning estimates, not predictions, and they do not describe any single property.

FEMA rates the overall natural hazard risk for Lewis County Relatively Low compared with other US counties[5]. FEMA estimates Expected Annual Loss from all 18 natural hazards at $11.9 million a year[1]. This is a FEMA estimate of average yearly loss, not money anyone paid. FEMA's sorted values show the largest part comes from inland flooding at $10.8 million a year, followed by cold wave at $397,000 a year and lightning at $149,000 a year[7]. FEMA rates social vulnerability Relatively Moderate, with a score of 59.3[8]. FEMA rates community resilience Relatively Moderate, with a score of 53.1[9].

Hazards sorted by FEMA hazard-type Risk Index score, highest first
HazardFEMA risk ratingExpected annual loss
LandslideRelatively Moderate$44,000[10]
Inland FloodingRelatively Low$10.8 million[11]
HurricaneVery Low$50,000[12]
LightningRelatively Low$149,000[13]
DroughtRelatively Low$31,000[14]
Cold WaveRelatively Low$397,000[15]
HailVery Low$96,000[16]
Winter WeatherRelatively Low$24,000[17]
EarthquakeVery Low$42,000[18]
Heat WaveVery Low$52,000[19]
AvalancheVery Low$29[20]
Strong WindVery Low$99,000[21]
TornadoVery Low$73,000[22]
WildfireVery Low$1,937[23]
Ice StormVery Low$2,125[24]

Rated Not Applicable by FEMA for this county: coastal flooding, tsunami, volcanic activity[25].

Social vulnerability and community resilience

FEMA uses these two ratings to scale expected losses into the Risk Index.

FEMA measureRatingScore
Social vulnerabilityRelatively Moderate59.3[8]
Community resilienceRelatively Moderate53.1[9]

Flooding and flood insurance

FEMA rates inland flooding in Lewis County Relatively Low compared with other US counties, with a score of 69.0 out of 100[11]. OpenFEMA lists 68 residential flood insurance contracts in force as of 2026-08-03[26]. Inside FEMA's mapped Special Flood Hazard Area, 6.7% of homes are insured[26]. OpenFEMA records 333 NFIP claims for losses from 1978 to 2026, and NFIP paid $3.0 million in total[3]. To learn about the flood zone for an address, use FEMA's Flood Map Service Center[27].

Measure Value
Inland Flooding, FEMA risk rating[11] Relatively Low, $10.8 million expected loss a year
NFIP residential flood policies in force (2026)[26] 68 of 8,593 homes
Homes in FEMA's mapped high-risk flood area (SFHA)[26] 752, of which 50 insured
NFIP flood claims, 1978 to 2026[3] 333 filed, $3.0 million paid

Is a specific address in a flood zone? Only FEMA's flood maps answer that, property by property[27]. This page describes the whole county.

Search an address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center

Disaster declarations and tornado records

OpenFEMA lists 23 federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Lewis County since 1967[2]. By incident type, these include severe storm 10 and flood 7[2]. The most recent listed is DR-4932-WV, declared 2026-08-03[28]. NOAA's tornado database records 3 tornadoes touching the county from 1950 to 2024, and the most recent was on 1989-06-05[4].

Federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Lewis County, since 1967
Incident type Declarations
Severe Storm[2] 10
Flood[2] 7
Hurricane[2] 3
Snowstorm[2] 2
Winter Storm[2] 1
Most recent declarations
Declaration Incident Declared
DR-4932-WV[28] Severe Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides 2026-08-03
EM-3639-WV[28] Severe Winter Storm 2026-01-24
DR-4273-WV[28] Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides 2016-06-25
DR-4220-WV[28] Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides 2015-05-18
DR-4210-WV[28] Severe Winter Storm, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides 2015-03-31

How to prepare

Steps from Ready.gov, FEMA's preparedness site, for the hazards with the highest FEMA ratings here. Follow instructions from local officials and the National Weather Service when a warning is issued.

Floods

Before

  • Check your flood risk with FEMA's Flood Map Service Center, and remember that floods do not follow map lines.
  • Sign up for your community's warning system. NOAA Weather Radio also broadcasts alerts.
  • Buy flood insurance through the NFIP well before a disaster. Homeowners policies do not cover flooding, and a new policy typically takes up to 30 days to go into effect.
  • Make a household plan with evacuation routes, shelter locations and what to do in a flash flood.
  • Keep important documents in a waterproof container and make password-protected digital copies.

During

  • If you are told to evacuate, leave right away and never drive around barricades.
  • Do not walk, swim or drive through floodwater. Six inches of moving water can knock you down.
  • If you are trapped in a building, go to the highest level, but do not climb into a closed attic.

Source: Ready.gov, floods

Hurricanes

Before

  • Know your hurricane risk, including rain, wind and tornadoes far inland from landfall.
  • Learn your evacuation zone and routes, and practice them with your household and pets.
  • Keep insurance policies and ID current, with password-protected digital copies.
  • Clear drains and gutters, bring in outdoor furniture and consider hurricane shutters.
  • Keep your phone charged, buy backup chargers and gather supplies, including medication and pet supplies.

During

  • If you are in a mandatory evacuation zone and officials order an evacuation, leave right away.
  • For high winds, take shelter in a designated storm shelter or an interior room.
  • If you are trapped by flooding, go to the highest level, but do not climb into a closed attic.

Source: Ready.gov, hurricanes

Questions people ask

Is Lewis County, West Virginia at risk of flooding?
FEMA rates inland flooding in Lewis County Relatively Low compared with other US counties, with a score of 69.0[11]. FEMA estimates inland flooding Expected Annual Loss at $10.8 million a year[11]. A county rating does not describe any single address[27].
Does Lewis County get tornadoes?
NOAA's tornado database records 3 tornadoes touching Lewis County from 1950 to 2024[4]. FEMA rates tornado risk Very Low compared with other US counties[22].
How many disasters have been declared in Lewis County?
OpenFEMA lists 23 federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Lewis County since 1967[2]. The most recent is DR-4932-WV, declared 2026-08-03[28].
Is Lewis County at risk of earthquakes?
FEMA rates earthquake risk Very Low in Lewis County compared with other US counties, with a score of 25.9[18].
How do I check the flood zone for an address in Lewis County?
FEMA's Flood Map Service Center is the official public source for flood maps, and you can look up an address there[27].

Facts and sources

  1. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): Expected Annual Loss from all 18 natural hazards in Lewis County is $11.9 million a year (Expected Annual Loss rating Very Low, score 41.9). Of this, buildings account for $11.1 million, injuries and deaths (converted to dollars by FEMA) for $768,000 and... FEMA National Risk Index
  2. OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries list 23 federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Lewis County since 1967 (18 major disaster, 5 emergency or fire management). By incident type: severe storm 10, flood 7, hurricane 3, snowstorm 2, winter storm 1. Biological (such as COVID-19) and other... OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations
  3. HazardFacts tally of OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims (losses from 1978 to 2026): 333 National Flood Insurance Program claims were filed for losses in Lewis County, 255 of them with a payment, and NFIP paid $3.0 million in total (building, contents and increased cost of compliance, in dollars of the year paid). Years... OpenFEMA NFIP claims
  4. NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database (1950 to 2024): 3 recorded tornadoes touched Lewis County. The strongest were rated F2 (most recent of them on 1956-03-07). 0 were rated F3/EF3 or stronger. The most recent recorded tornado was on 1989-06-05. Ratings used the Fujita scale until early 2007 and the... NOAA Storm Prediction Center
  5. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): the overall natural hazard Risk Index rating for Lewis County is Relatively Low, with a Risk Index score of 43.7 out of 100. The score is the county's percentile rank among all US counties. FEMA National Risk Index
  6. Among the 18 hazards in the FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), the hazards with the highest hazard-type Risk Index scores for Lewis County are landslide (89.0, Relatively Moderate), inland flooding (69.0, Relatively Low), hurricane (47.3, Very Low). HazardFacts sorted FEMA's published scores;... FEMA National Risk Index
  7. HazardFacts sorted FEMA's hazard-type Expected Annual Loss values for Lewis County (National Risk Index v1.20): the largest are inland flooding ($10.8 million a year), cold wave ($397,000 a year), lightning ($149,000 a year), out of $11.9 million a year from all 18 hazards. FEMA National Risk Index
  8. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): Social Vulnerability rating for Lewis County is Relatively Moderate (score 59.3). FEMA describes social vulnerability as how susceptible social groups are to the harm natural hazards cause. FEMA National Risk Index
  9. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): Community Resilience rating for Lewis County is Relatively Moderate (score 53.1). FEMA describes community resilience as a community's ability to prepare for, withstand and recover from hazards. FEMA National Risk Index
  10. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), landslide in Lewis County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 89.0 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $44,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). FEMA National Risk Index
  11. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), inland flooding in Lewis County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 69.0 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $10.8 million a year (rating Relatively Low). Annualized frequency 1.57 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 26 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  12. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), hurricane in Lewis County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 47.3 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $50,000 a year (rating Very Low). Annualized frequency 0.02 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 172 years for the Atlantic Basin... FEMA National Risk Index
  13. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), lightning in Lewis County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 41.9 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $149,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). Annualized frequency 46.74 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 24 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  14. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), drought in Lewis County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 33.3 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $31,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). Annualized frequency 3.83 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 22 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  15. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), cold wave in Lewis County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 31.9 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $397,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). Annualized frequency 1.32 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 18 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  16. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), hail in Lewis County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 28.6 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $96,000 a year (rating Very Low). Annualized frequency 1.88 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 37 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  17. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), winter weather in Lewis County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 28.1 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $24,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). Annualized frequency 9.79 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 18 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  18. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), earthquake in Lewis County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 25.9 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $42,000 a year (rating Very Low). FEMA's modeled annual frequency is 0.0007 events per year. FEMA National Risk Index
  19. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), heat wave in Lewis County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 19.7 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $52,000 a year (rating Very Low). Annualized frequency 1.89 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 18 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  20. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), avalanche in Lewis County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 19.2 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $29 a year (rating Very Low). Annualized frequency 0.01 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 28 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  21. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), strong wind in Lewis County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 14.2 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $99,000 a year (rating Very Low). Annualized frequency 0.77 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 38 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  22. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), tornado in Lewis County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 11.5 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $73,000 a year (rating Very Low). Annualized frequency 0.04 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 38 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  23. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), wildfire in Lewis County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 7.2 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $1,937 a year (rating Very Low). FEMA's modeled annual frequency is 0.0001 events per year. FEMA National Risk Index
  24. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), ice storm in Lewis County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 5.3 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $2,125 a year (rating Very Low). Annualized frequency 0.02 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 68 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  25. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025) rates these hazards Not Applicable for Lewis County: coastal flooding, tsunami, volcanic activity. FEMA uses Not Applicable when its source data has no historical record of the hazard in the community and the hazard is not considered geographically possible there. FEMA National Risk Index documentation
  26. NFIP Residential Penetration Rates (OpenFEMA, as of 2026-08-03): 68 residential flood insurance contracts were in force in Lewis County, out of 8,593 residential structures, a penetration rate of 0.8%. Inside FEMA's mapped Special Flood Hazard Area there were 752 residential structures and 50 contracts, a rate of... OpenFEMA NFIP penetration rates
  27. FEMA's Flood Map Service Center is the official public source for flood maps (Flood Insurance Rate Maps) produced under the National Flood Insurance Program. Flood zones apply to specific properties: look up an address there or ask the local floodplain manager. County-level ratings do not tell you the flood zone of... FEMA Flood Map Service Center
  28. Most recent federal disaster declarations for natural hazards (table on this page). OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations

FEMA's National Risk Index compares each county with all other US counties. Ratings are relative (Very Low to Very High), not a measure of safety. Never call a place safe, unsafe, good or bad to live in. Risk Index and Expected Annual Loss values are FEMA estimates for planning. They do not predict next year's losses and do not apply to a single property. Flood zones are set by FEMA flood maps for specific properties. County ratings and flood insurance counts do not tell anyone whether an address is in a flood zone. Disaster declaration, NFIP and tornado counts are records of the past for this county only. Do not compare with other counties unless a fact does.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), National Risk Index Dataset: National Risk Index Counties, v1.20 (December 2025). Retrieved from fema.maps.arcgis.com on October 30, 2026. This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's National Risk Index dataset API or downloadable datasets but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s). This product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA.