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Doddridge County, West Virginia

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

Very Low overall risk
52nd of 55highest risk in West Virginia
$6Mexpected losses a year
23federal declarations
1 in 111homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Doddridge County, West Virginia has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 86% of US counties. It ranks 52nd of 55 counties in West Virginia. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, hail and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $6.1 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $785 per resident. Since 1967 it has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (18 major disasters). The most recent was in August 2026 (severe storm, straight-line winds, tornadoes, flooding, landslides and mudslides). Only 31 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $477,000 on 52 claims here.

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

Top risks in Doddridge County

$5.7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times 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.

Hail

Very Low
$67,136 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times a year.
  • Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
  • Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.

Tornado

Very Low
$65,085 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 25 years.
  • Pick a shelter spot: a basement, or an inside room on the lowest floor with no windows.
  • Turn on emergency alerts on your phone and keep a weather radio.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow43.6
$6M
HailVery Low18.3
$67K
TornadoVery Low9.9
$65K
Strong windVery Low7.8
$60K
LandslideModerate89.8
$58K
LightningVery Low15.5
$55K
EarthquakeVery Low21.7
$34K
Heat waveVery Low14.1
$33K
HurricaneVery Low36.7
$25K
Cold waveVery Low5.3
$22K
Ice stormVery Low18.1
$14K
Winter weatherVery Low11.7
$10K
WildfireVery Low10.7
$4K
AvalancheVery Low6.0
$3

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 low and community resilience is relatively moderate in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm10
Flood6
Snowstorm3
Hurricane2
Mud/Landslide1
Winter Storm1

Most recent

Aug 3, 2026Severe Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
May 24, 2024Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Apr 17, 2018Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Aug 18, 2017Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
May 18, 2015Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Mar 31, 2015Severe Winter Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Oct 29, 2012Hurricane SandyEmergency
Jul 23, 2012Severe Storms and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Jun 30, 2012Severe StormsEmergency
Show all 23
Mar 16, 2012Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Mudslides, and LandslidesMajor disaster
Apr 23, 2010Severe Winter Storms and SnowstormsMajor disaster
Jun 19, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Mudslides, AndMajor disaster
Sep 5, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Nov 21, 2003Severe Storms, Flooding, and LandslidesMajor disaster
Jun 21, 2003Severe Storms, 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
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 1974

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 167 storm reports in Doddridge County since 1974, with 0 deaths and 1 injury and about $6 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on October 1, 1986.

3tornadoes
26hail reports, largest 2 inches
89damaging thunderstorm winds
47floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Oct 1, 1986F3–1 / 0
Oct 4, 1986F1–0 / 0
Jul 21, 2026EF1Central Station0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Aug 10, 2022Flash FloodCanton$1M
Jun 29, 2012Thunderstorm WindWest Union$750K
Apr 15, 1994Thunderstorm Wind–$500K
Jul 10, 2003Flash FloodSouth Portion$450K
Jun 3, 2008Flash FloodWest Union$300K
Oct 4, 1986Tornado–$250K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 21, 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 Doddridge County, 2 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, with top winds near 50 mph about 32 miles away.

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

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph32 mi
Sep 22, 1989HugoTropical storm, 45 mph45 mi
Sep 14, 1979FredericTropical storm, 40 mph48 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 22, 1989HugoTropical storm, 45 mph45 mi
Sep 14, 1979FredericTropical storm, 40 mph48 mi
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph32 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 Doddridge County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.9%of homes have federal flood insurance (31 policies)
5.1%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$476,730paid on 52 flood claims since 1978
1985costliest year, with $106,974 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 Doddridge County

$160,800median home value (West Virginia $162,600, US $332,700)
1977median year homes were built (West Virginia 1976, US 1980)
54%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
14.5%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; 3,235 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
Harrison CountyLow23
Lewis CountyLow23
Wetzel CountyLow26
Ritchie CountyVery Low19
Tyler CountyVery Low24
Gilmer CountyVery Low23

Common questions about Doddridge County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Doddridge County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Doddridge County, about $5.7 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Hail is second at $67,136.

How many federal disasters has Doddridge County had?

Doddridge County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1967, including 18 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides in August 2026.

Is Doddridge County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 52nd 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 Doddridge County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 111 homes in Doddridge 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 Doddridge County had?

NOAA records list 3 tornadoes in Doddridge County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on October 1, 1986. The weather service has also logged 26 hail reports and 47 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Doddridge County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 3 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Doddridge 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.