Tucker County, West Virginia
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
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
- 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.
- Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
- Know how to shut off the main water valve.
- Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
- Have trees near the house checked.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 39.6 | $4M | ||
| Cold wave | 20.4 | $194K | ||
| Strong wind | 11.9 | $75K | ||
| Hail | 18.0 | $53K | ||
| Hurricane | 47.1 | $47K | ||
| Lightning | 15.9 | $45K | ||
| Tornado | 8.6 | $42K | ||
| Winter weather | 28.5 | $23K | ||
| Drought | 28.8 | $18K | ||
| Earthquake | 16.1 | $16K | ||
| Landslide | 78.0 | $11K | ||
| Ice storm | 11.6 | $5K | ||
| Avalanche | 67.0 | $3K | ||
| Wildfire | 10.1 | $3K | ||
| Heat wave | 2.7 | $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
Most recent
Show all 23
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.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 8, 1985 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 16, 1954 | F0 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 5, 1992 | F0 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 4, 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | St George | $75K |
| Feb 11, 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | Hannahsville | $75K |
| Feb 11, 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | Buena | $75K |
| Jun 4, 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | St George | $50K |
| Jan 25, 2010 | Flood | Porterwood | $50K |
| Jul 27, 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | Moore | $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.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 19, 2003 | Isabel | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 50 mi |
| Aug 21, 1888 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 58 mi |
| Sep 6, 1979 | David | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 58 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 19, 2003 | Isabel | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 50 mi |
| Sep 6, 1979 | David | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 58 mi |
| Aug 21, 1888 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 58 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 ›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
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 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Preston County | 22 | |
| Randolph County | 21 | |
| Barbour County | 19 | |
| Grant County | 19 |
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.