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Calhoun County, West Virginia

Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.

Very Low overall risk
50th of 55highest risk in West Virginia
$5Mexpected losses a year
22federal declarations
1 in 100homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Calhoun County, West Virginia has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 83% of US counties. It ranks 50th of 55 counties in West Virginia. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $4.9 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $792 per resident. Since 1967 it has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (17 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). Only 32 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $2.4 million on 264 claims here.

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.

Top risks in Calhoun County

$4.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • Check the FEMA flood map for your address, and ask the seller or landlord about past flooding.
  • Price a flood policy now. Most new federal policies take 30 days to start.

Cold wave

Very Low
$140,522 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.

Strong wind

Very Low
$58,132 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 1 years.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow45.5
$4M
Cold waveVery Low17.5
$141K
Strong windVery Low10.4
$58K
LightningVery Low19.3
$50K
LandslideModerate90.7
$47K
Heat waveVery Low19.5
$45K
HailVery Low15.2
$39K
HurricaneVery Low44.6
$33K
EarthquakeVery Low24.6
$33K
DroughtVery Low30.7
$21K
TornadoVery Low5.7
$19K
Ice stormVery Low25.9
$19K
Winter weatherVery Low16.3
$10K
WildfireVery Low3.8
$985
AvalancheVery Low11.5
$8

Scores are percentiles: a score of 90 means higher risk than about 90% of US counties for that hazard. Hazards FEMA does not rate here are left out. Social vulnerability is relatively high and community resilience is relatively low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

Federal declarations for natural events that included Calhoun County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm9
Flood6
Snowstorm3
Hurricane2
Mud/Landslide1
Winter Storm1

Most recent

Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
Jan 30, 2024Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Apr 17, 2018Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
May 21, 2015Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Oct 29, 2012Hurricane SandyEmergency
Jul 23, 2012Severe Storms and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Jun 30, 2012Severe StormsEmergency
Mar 2, 2010Severe Winter Storm and SnowstormMajor disaster
May 15, 2009Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and LandslidesMajor disaster
Jun 19, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Mudslides, AndMajor disaster
Show all 22
Sep 5, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jun 7, 2004Severe Storms, Flooding, and LandslidesMajor disaster
Nov 21, 2003Severe Storms, Flooding, and LandslidesMajor disaster
Mar 14, 2003Severe Winter Storm, Record/Near Record Snow, Heavy Rains, Flooding and LandslidesMajor disaster
Jun 3, 2001Severe Storms, Flooding and LandslidesMajor disaster
Feb 28, 2000Flooding, Severe Storms, and LandslidesMajor disaster
Jul 1, 1998Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 7, 1997Heavy & Wind Driven Rain, High Winds,Flooding,SlidesMajor disaster
Jan 13, 1996Blizzard of 96 (Severe Snow Storm)Major disaster
Mar 17, 1993Severe Snowfall & Winter StormEmergency
Nov 7, 1985Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 13, 1967FloodingMajor disaster

West Virginia also had 6 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1969

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 136 storm reports in Calhoun County since 1969, with 0 deaths and 3 injuries and about $4.2 million in reported damage. No tornadoes are on record here.

0tornadoes
34hail reports, largest 1.75 inches
64damaging thunderstorm winds
36floods and flash floods

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Aug 29, 2005Flash FloodSouth Portion$900K
Jun 29, 2012Thunderstorm WindGrantsville$750K
Mar 1, 1997Flash FloodCountywide$500K
Feb 18, 2000Flash FloodCountywide$400K
May 4, 2009FloodChloe$250K
Jun 28, 1998Flash FloodGrantsville$200K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 14, 2026. Tornado records start in 1950, hail and wind in 1955, and floods and other storm types in 1996, so older decades undercount. Damage is in dollars of the year it happened and is often an estimate. Winter storms, heat and hurricanes are logged by forecast zone, not county, so they are not counted here.

Hurricanes and tropical storms

Hurricane risk by county ›

Since 1888, 0 hurricanes and 3 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Calhoun County, 2 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, with top winds near 50 mph about 46 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
3tropical storms
1989most recent: Hugo

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph46 mi
Sep 22, 1989HugoTropical storm, 50 mph65 mi
Sep 14, 1979FredericTropical storm, 40 mph58 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 22, 1989HugoTropical storm, 50 mph65 mi
Sep 14, 1979FredericTropical storm, 40 mph58 mi
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph46 mi

Source: NOAA National Hurricane Center best-track records (HURDAT2), 1851 to 2025 for the Atlantic and 1949 to 2025 for the eastern Pacific. A storm counts if its track passed within 65 miles of the county's center while it was a tropical storm or hurricane. Strength is the storm's top sustained wind at that point, not the wind measured in the county. Older storms over the open sea were sometimes missed.

Flood insurance in Calhoun County

Check your address flood zone ›
1%of homes have federal flood insurance (32 policies)
7.4%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$2.4 millionpaid on 264 flood claims since 1978
1997costliest year, with $691,166 paid

National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) records only; private flood policies are not included. Home counts as of Aug 3, 2026. Since 2021 NFIP prices each home separately under Risk Rating 2.0, so your price depends on the building, not the county. Ask an agent for a quote.

Homes in Calhoun County

$100,500median home value (West Virginia $162,600, US $332,700)
1975median year homes were built (West Virginia 1976, US 1980)
59%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
24.5%of homes are mobile homes, which are the least safe in tornadoes and high winds

Older homes and mobile homes usually suffer more damage in storms, floods and earthquakes, and can cost more to insure. If you are buying, ask about roof age, foundation bolting and any retrofits. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 5-year estimates; 3,185 housing units.

Compare in West Virginia

All 55 ›
Largest countiesOverall riskTop hazard
Kanawha CountyHighInland flooding
Berkeley CountyLowInland flooding
Monongalia CountyLowInland flooding
Cabell CountyModerateInland flooding
Wood CountyLowInland flooding
Raleigh CountyLowInland flooding
Harrison CountyLowInland flooding
Mercer CountyLowInland flooding

Neighboring counties

CountyOverall riskDeclarations
Roane CountyLow23
Braxton CountyVery Low22
Ritchie CountyVery Low19
Clay CountyVery Low23
Gilmer CountyVery Low23
Wirt CountyVery Low19

Common questions about Calhoun County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Calhoun County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Calhoun County, about $4.4 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $140,522.

How many federal disasters has Calhoun County had?

Calhoun County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1967, including 17 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is Calhoun County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 50th highest of 55 in West Virginia. A county rating covers the whole area. Risk at one address can be much higher or lower, so check the FEMA flood map and ask about the home's history.

Do I need flood insurance in Calhoun County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 100 homes in Calhoun County has federal flood insurance. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.

How many tornadoes has Calhoun County had?

NOAA records list 0 tornadoes in Calhoun County since 1950. The weather service has also logged 34 hail reports and 36 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Calhoun County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 3 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Calhoun County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, with winds near 50 mph.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025), OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, and NFIP policy and claims data. Hazard Compass is independent and not affiliated with FEMA. These figures describe the whole county, not a single property, and are not insurance or safety advice. Report a problem.