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Tyler County, West Virginia

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

Very Low overall risk
38th of 55highest risk in West Virginia
$7Mexpected losses a year
24federal declarations
1 in 167homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Tyler County, West Virginia has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 64% of US counties. It ranks 38th of 55 counties in West Virginia. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, strong wind and lightning. FEMA estimates about $7.1 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $858 per resident. Since 1985 it has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (19 major disasters). The most recent was in August 2026 (severe storm, straight-line winds, tornadoes, flooding, landslides and mudslides). Only 27 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $378,000 on 59 claims here.

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.

Top risks in Tyler County

$6.3 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.
$344,398 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.
$130,719 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 46 times a year.
  • Go indoors when you hear thunder.
  • Use surge protectors for electronics.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow63.0
$6M
Strong windLow49.7
$344K
LightningLow46.6
$131K
Cold waveVery Low13.7
$84K
TornadoVery Low14.5
$84K
HailVery Low23.2
$53K
Heat waveVery Low21.2
$44K
HurricaneVery Low48.8
$41K
Ice stormLow31.9
$23K
DroughtLow33.1
$22K
EarthquakeVery Low21.9
$21K
LandslideLow83.8
$16K
Winter weatherVery Low14.6
$8K
WildfireVery Low7.9
$2K
AvalancheVery Low7.7
$3

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 very high 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 Tyler County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm10
Flood7
Snowstorm3
Hurricane2
Mud/Landslide1
Winter Storm1

Most recent

Aug 3, 2026Severe Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
May 24, 2024Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
May 22, 2024Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Apr 17, 2018Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Aug 18, 2017Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
May 18, 2015Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Mar 31, 2015Severe Winter Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Oct 29, 2012Hurricane SandyEmergency
Jul 23, 2012Severe Storms and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Show all 24
Jun 30, 2012Severe StormsEmergency
Apr 23, 2010Severe Winter Storms and SnowstormsMajor disaster
Jun 19, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Mudslides, AndMajor disaster
Sep 5, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Feb 1, 2005Severe Storms, Flooding, and LandslidesMajor disaster
Sep 20, 2004Severe 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
Jul 1, 1998Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 7, 1997Heavy & Wind Driven Rain, High Winds,Flooding,SlidesMajor 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

West Virginia also had 6 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1967

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 209 storm reports in Tyler County since 1967 and about $3.8 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F1 tornado on May 23, 2000 near Kidwell.

3tornadoes
30hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
102damaging thunderstorm winds
71floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 23, 2000F1Kidwell0 / 0
Jul 21, 2026EF1Plum Run0 / 0
Jul 21, 2026EF1Deep Vly0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 25, 2019LightningBens Run$1M
Jun 29, 2012Thunderstorm WindSistersville$750K
Aug 13, 2013Flash FloodEverett$400K
Jun 28, 1998Flash FloodCountywide$250K
Feb 18, 2000Flash FloodCountywide$250K
Mar 4, 2015FloodFriendly$200K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 22, 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 Tyler County, 2 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, with top winds near 50 mph about 62 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
3tropical storms
1989most recent: Hugo

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph62 mi
Sep 22, 1989HugoTropical storm, 45 mph43 mi
Sep 14, 1979FredericTropical storm, 40 mph46 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 22, 1989HugoTropical storm, 45 mph43 mi
Sep 14, 1979FredericTropical storm, 40 mph46 mi
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph62 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 Tyler County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.6%of homes have federal flood insurance (27 policies)
3.8%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$378,307paid on 59 flood claims since 1978
1985costliest year, with $94,526 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 Tyler County

$121,300median home value (West Virginia $162,600, US $332,700)
1968median year homes were built (West Virginia 1976, US 1980)
65%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
12.5%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; 4,110 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
Washington County, OHLow18
Wetzel CountyLow26
Monroe County, OHVery Low20
Ritchie CountyVery Low19
Doddridge CountyVery Low23
Pleasants CountyVery Low14

Common questions about Tyler County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Tyler County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Tyler County, about $6.3 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Strong wind is second at $344,398.

How many federal disasters has Tyler County had?

Tyler County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1985, including 19 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides in August 2026.

Is Tyler County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 38th 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 Tyler County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 167 homes in Tyler 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 Tyler County had?

NOAA records list 3 tornadoes in Tyler County since 1950. The strongest was an F1 tornado on May 23, 2000 near Kidwell. The weather service has also logged 30 hail reports and 71 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Tyler County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 3 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Tyler County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, with winds near 50 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.