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Tucker County, West Virginia

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

Very Low overall risk
53rd of 55highest risk in West Virginia
$5Mexpected losses a year
23federal declarations
1 in 59homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Tucker County, West Virginia has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 87% of US counties. It ranks 53rd of 55 counties in West Virginia. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $4.5 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $670 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). About 1 in 59 homes here carry federal flood insurance (73 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $7.1 million on 369 claims here, including $4.9 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 Tucker County

$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
$194,394 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 5 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.

Strong wind

Very Low
$74,841 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow39.6
$4M
Cold waveVery Low20.4
$194K
Strong windVery Low11.9
$75K
HailVery Low18.0
$53K
HurricaneVery Low47.1
$47K
LightningVery Low15.9
$45K
TornadoVery Low8.6
$42K
Winter weatherLow28.5
$23K
DroughtVery Low28.8
$18K
EarthquakeVery Low16.1
$16K
LandslideLow78.0
$11K
Ice stormVery Low11.6
$5K
AvalancheLow67.0
$3K
WildfireVery Low10.1
$3K
Heat waveVery Low2.7
$707

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 high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm8
Flood7
Hurricane4
Snowstorm3
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
Mar 31, 2015Severe Winter Storm, 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
Apr 23, 2010Severe Winter Storms and SnowstormsMajor disaster
Show all 23
Jun 19, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Mudslides, AndMajor disaster
Sep 5, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Sep 23, 2003Hurricane IsabelMajor disaster
Jun 21, 2003Severe Storms, Flooding, and LandslidesMajor disaster
Mar 14, 2003Severe Winter Storm, Record/Near Record Snow, Heavy Rains, Flooding and LandslidesMajor disaster
Feb 28, 2000Flooding, Severe Storms, and LandslidesMajor disaster
Sep 11, 1996Hurricane Fran and Associated Heavy Rains,Flooding HighwindMajor 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 1954

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 172 storm reports in Tucker County since 1954 and about $848,500 in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F1 tornado on July 8, 1985.

3tornadoes
34hail reports, largest 1.75 inches
85damaging thunderstorm winds
48floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jul 8, 1985F1–0 / 0
Aug 16, 1954F0–0 / 0
Jul 5, 1992F0–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 4, 2008Thunderstorm WindSt George$75K
Feb 11, 2009Thunderstorm WindHannahsville$75K
Feb 11, 2009Thunderstorm WindBuena$75K
Jun 4, 2008Thunderstorm WindSt George$50K
Jan 25, 2010FloodPorterwood$50K
Jul 27, 2014Thunderstorm WindMoore$50K

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 Tucker County, 2 of them since 1950. The strongest was Tropical Storm Isabel (2003), with top winds near 60 mph about 50 miles away.

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

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 19, 2003IsabelTropical storm, 60 mph50 mi
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph58 mi
Sep 6, 1979DavidTropical storm, 45 mph58 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 19, 2003IsabelTropical storm, 60 mph50 mi
Sep 6, 1979DavidTropical storm, 45 mph58 mi
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph58 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 Tucker County

Check your address flood zone ›
1.7%of homes have federal flood insurance (73 policies)
17.8%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$7.1 millionpaid on 369 flood claims since 1978
1996costliest year, with $4.9 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 Tucker County

$154,800median home value (West Virginia $162,600, US $332,700)
1983median year homes were built (West Virginia 1976, US 1980)
42%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
8.7%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; 4,652 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
Preston CountyVery Low22
Randolph CountyLow21
Barbour CountyVery Low19
Grant CountyVery Low19

Common questions about Tucker County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Tucker County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Tucker County, about $4 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $194,394.

How many federal disasters has Tucker County had?

Tucker 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 Tucker County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 53rd 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 Tucker County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 59 homes in Tucker 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 Tucker County had?

NOAA records list 3 tornadoes in Tucker County since 1950. The strongest was an F1 tornado on July 8, 1985. The weather service has also logged 34 hail reports and 48 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Tucker County?

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