Hampshire County, West Virginia
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Hampshire County, West Virginia has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 62% of US counties. It ranks 36th of 55 counties in West Virginia. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, strong wind and hurricanes. FEMA estimates about $10 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $449 per resident. Since 1967 it has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (10 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (112 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $4.2 million on 261 claims here, including $3.3 million for floods in 1996.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Hampshire County
- 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.
- Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
- Have trees near the house checked.
- Know your evacuation zone and route before June 1.
- Ask about roof age, shutters and the separate wind or hurricane deductible on your home policy.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 62.8 | $9M | ||
| Strong wind | 42.8 | $389K | ||
| Hurricane | 65.7 | $328K | ||
| Drought | 58.7 | $229K | ||
| Tornado | 20.0 | $206K | ||
| Hail | 30.8 | $108K | ||
| Cold wave | 13.0 | $107K | ||
| Heat wave | 26.8 | $96K | ||
| Earthquake | 32.6 | $84K | ||
| Lightning | 19.2 | $58K | ||
| Wildfire | 54.9 | $55K | ||
| Landslide | 89.3 | $46K | ||
| Winter weather | 40.5 | $40K | ||
| Ice storm | 11.7 | $5K | ||
| Avalanche | 63.3 | $2K |
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 moderate and community resilience is very low in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Hampshire County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 17
West Virginia also had 6 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1986
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 338 storm reports in Hampshire County since 1986, with 0 deaths and 6 injuries and about $3.1 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF1 tornado on July 21, 2026 near Lehew.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 21, 2026 | EF1 | Lehew | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 2, 1998 | F1 | Junction | 5 / 0 |
| Jun 2, 1998 | F1 | Donaldson | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 12, 2022 | EF0 | Glebe | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 12, 2022 | EF0 | Rio | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 21, 2026 | Tornado | Lehew | $500K |
| Sep 6, 1996 | Flash Flood | Countywide | $400K |
| Jul 12, 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | Camp Wickham | $300K |
| Jul 12, 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | Capon Spgs | $250K |
| Jul 12, 2022 | Tornado | Glebe | $200K |
| Jun 2, 1998 | Tornado | Junction | $150K |
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 1876, 1 hurricane and 10 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Hampshire County, 4 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1893, with top winds near 75 mph about 50 miles away.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 13, 1893 | Unnamed | Category 1, 75 mph | 50 mi |
| Sep 18, 1876 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 65 mph | 58 mi |
| Aug 29, 1893 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 65 mph | 59 mi |
| Sep 19, 2003 | Isabel | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 52 mi |
| Aug 29, 1949 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 54 mi |
| Sep 1, 1952 | Able | Tropical storm, 55 mph | 58 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 19, 2003 | Isabel | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 52 mi |
| Sep 6, 1979 | David | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 46 mi |
| Aug 18, 1955 | Diane | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 60 mi |
| Sep 1, 1952 | Able | Tropical storm, 55 mph | 58 mi |
| Aug 29, 1949 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 54 mi |
| Aug 4, 1915 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 65 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 Hampshire County
Check your address flood zone ›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 Hampshire County
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; 12,639 housing units.
Compare in West Virginia
All 55 ›| Largest counties | Overall risk | Top hazard |
|---|---|---|
| Kanawha County | Inland flooding | |
| Berkeley County | Inland flooding | |
| Monongalia County | Inland flooding | |
| Cabell County | Inland flooding | |
| Wood County | Inland flooding | |
| Raleigh County | Inland flooding | |
| Harrison County | Inland flooding | |
| Mercer County | Inland flooding |
Neighboring counties
| County | Overall risk | Declarations |
|---|---|---|
| Frederick County, VA | 17 | |
| Allegany County, MD | 15 | |
| Mineral County | 17 | |
| Morgan County | 15 | |
| Hardy County | 20 | |
| Grant County | 19 |
Common questions about Hampshire County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Hampshire County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Hampshire County, about $8.6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Strong wind is second at $388,760.
How many federal disasters has Hampshire County had?
Hampshire County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1967, including 10 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.
Is Hampshire County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 36th 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 Hampshire County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 125 homes in Hampshire 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 Hampshire County had?
NOAA records list 5 tornadoes in Hampshire County since 1950. The strongest was an EF1 tornado on July 21, 2026 near Lehew. The weather service has also logged 48 hail reports and 67 floods here.
How many hurricanes have hit Hampshire County?
NOAA's hurricane records show 1 hurricane and 10 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Hampshire County. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1893, with winds near 75 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.