Randolph County, West Virginia
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
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
- 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.
- Go indoors when you hear thunder.
- Use surge protectors for electronics.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 78.3 | $18M | ||
| Strong wind | 22.4 | $202K | ||
| Lightning | 46.6 | $201K | ||
| Cold wave | 18.4 | $191K | ||
| Hail | 37.1 | $156K | ||
| Earthquake | 33.9 | $100K | ||
| Hurricane | 50.8 | $75K | ||
| Winter weather | 53.0 | $69K | ||
| Landslide | 90.0 | $56K | ||
| Tornado | 9.1 | $53K | ||
| Drought | 30.3 | $26K | ||
| Ice storm | 19.3 | $15K | ||
| Wildfire | 16.9 | $6K | ||
| Avalanche | 65.5 | $3K | ||
| Heat wave | 1.9 | $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
Most recent
Show all 21
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.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 9, 1980 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 29, 1957 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 21, 2026 | EF1 | Ganby | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 9, 1980 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 21, 1967 | F0 | – | 3 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 16, 1996 | Flash Flood | Countywide | $2M |
| Jun 29, 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | Elkins | $1M |
| Jun 30, 2019 | Flash Flood | Harman | $1M |
| Apr 27, 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Elkins | $650K |
| Jul 31, 1996 | Flash Flood | Countywide | $300K |
| Jun 29, 1957 | Tornado | – | $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.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 19, 2003 | Isabel | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 54 mi |
| Aug 21, 1888 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 61 mi |
| Sep 6, 1979 | David | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 59 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 19, 2003 | Isabel | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 54 mi |
| Sep 6, 1979 | David | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 59 mi |
| Aug 21, 1888 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 61 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 ›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
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 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Upshur County | 20 | |
| Barbour County | 19 | |
| Grant County | 19 | |
| Webster County | 21 | |
| Pocahontas County | 21 | |
| Tucker County | 23 | |
| Pendleton County | 22 |
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.