Home › West Virginia › Randolph County

Randolph County, West Virginia

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

Relatively Low overall risk
22nd of 55highest risk in West Virginia
$19Mexpected losses a year
21federal declarations
1 in 91homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Randolph County, West Virginia has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 57% of US counties. It ranks 22nd of 55 counties in West Virginia. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, strong wind and lightning. FEMA estimates about $19 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $671 per resident. Since 1967 it has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (16 major disasters). The most recent was in August 2026 (severe storm, straight-line winds, tornadoes, flooding, landslides and mudslides). About 1 in 91 homes here carry federal flood insurance (124 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $4.7 million on 536 claims here, including $2.5 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 Randolph County

$17.6 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.
$202,087 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.
$201,094 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 43 times a year.
  • Go indoors when you hear thunder.
  • Use surge protectors for electronics.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingModerate78.3
$18M
Strong windLow22.4
$202K
LightningLow46.6
$201K
Cold waveVery Low18.4
$191K
HailLow37.1
$156K
EarthquakeVery Low33.9
$100K
HurricaneVery Low50.8
$75K
Winter weatherLow53.0
$69K
LandslideModerate90.0
$56K
TornadoVery Low9.1
$53K
DroughtVery Low30.3
$26K
Ice stormVery Low19.3
$15K
WildfireVery Low16.9
$6K
AvalancheVery Low65.5
$3K
Heat waveVery Low1.9
$0

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 relatively moderate in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Flood8
Severe Storm4
Hurricane4
Snowstorm3
Fire1
Winter Storm1

Most recent

Aug 3, 2026Severe Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
Aug 2, 2019Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Aug 18, 2017Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Jun 25, 2016Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Nov 27, 2012Hurricane SandyMajor 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
Show all 21
Sep 5, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Sep 23, 2003Hurricane IsabelMajor disaster
Feb 28, 2000Flooding, Severe Storms, and LandslidesMajor disaster
Sep 11, 1996Hurricane Fran and Associated Heavy Rains,Flooding HighwindMajor disaster
Aug 14, 1996Heavy Rains, High Winds, Flooding, and SlidesMajor disaster
May 23, 1996Flooding, Heavy WindsMajor disaster
Jan 25, 1996FloodingMajor 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 1955

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 294 storm reports in Randolph County since 1955, with 3 deaths and 5 injuries and about $6.5 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on July 9, 1980.

5tornadoes
58hail reports, largest 2 inches
138damaging thunderstorm winds
88floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jul 9, 1980F2–0 / 0
Jun 29, 1957F1–0 / 0
Jul 21, 2026EF1Ganby0 / 0
Jul 9, 1980F1–0 / 0
May 21, 1967F0–3 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 16, 1996Flash FloodCountywide$2M
Jun 29, 2012Thunderstorm WindElkins$1M
Jun 30, 2019Flash FloodHarman$1M
Apr 27, 2011Thunderstorm WindElkins$650K
Jul 31, 1996Flash FloodCountywide$300K
Jun 29, 1957Tornado–$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 Randolph County, 2 of them since 1950. The strongest was Tropical Storm Isabel (2003), with top winds near 60 mph about 54 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
3tropical storms
2003most recent: Isabel

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 19, 2003IsabelTropical storm, 60 mph54 mi
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph61 mi
Sep 6, 1979DavidTropical storm, 45 mph59 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 19, 2003IsabelTropical storm, 60 mph54 mi
Sep 6, 1979DavidTropical storm, 45 mph59 mi
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph61 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 Randolph County

Check your address flood zone ›
1.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (124 policies)
8.4%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$4.7 millionpaid on 536 flood claims since 1978
1996costliest year, with $2.5 million 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 Randolph County

$144,800median home value (West Virginia $162,600, US $332,700)
1977median year homes were built (West Virginia 1976, US 1980)
55%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
16.8%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; 13,072 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
Upshur CountyLow20
Barbour CountyVery Low19
Grant CountyVery Low19
Webster CountyVery Low21
Pocahontas CountyVery Low21
Tucker CountyVery Low23
Pendleton CountyVery Low22

Common questions about Randolph County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Randolph County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Randolph County, about $17.6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Strong wind is second at $202,087.

How many federal disasters has Randolph County had?

Randolph County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1967, including 16 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides in August 2026.

Is Randolph County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 22nd 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 Randolph County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 91 homes in Randolph 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 Randolph County had?

NOAA records list 5 tornadoes in Randolph County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on July 9, 1980. The weather service has also logged 58 hail reports and 88 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Randolph County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 3 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Randolph County. The strongest was Tropical Storm Isabel (2003), with winds near 60 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.