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Wirt County, West Virginia

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

Very Low overall risk
55th of 55highest risk in West Virginia
$4Mexpected losses a year
19federal declarations
1 in 200homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Wirt County, West Virginia has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 91% of US counties. It ranks 55th of 55 counties in West Virginia. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, strong wind and heat waves. FEMA estimates about $3.9 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $754 per resident. Since 1967 it has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (14 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). Only 15 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $535,000 on 67 claims here.

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

Top risks in Wirt County

$3.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 1 years.
  • 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.

Strong wind

Very Low
$60,581 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.

Heat wave

Very Low
$45,763 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 3 times a year.
  • Check that cooling works before summer.
  • Know where the nearest cooling center is.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow35.5
$4M
Strong windVery Low9.7
$61K
Heat waveVery Low18.3
$46K
LightningVery Low12.1
$36K
TornadoVery Low7.2
$33K
Ice stormVery Low22.1
$17K
HailVery Low6.5
$16K
LandslideLow81.3
$16K
DroughtVery Low26.1
$13K
HurricaneVery Low29.9
$12K
Cold waveVery Low4.6
$11K
EarthquakeVery Low12.1
$11K
Winter weatherVery Low7.9
$5K
WildfireVery Low0.5
$192

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 low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm9
Flood4
Snowstorm2
Hurricane2
Mud/Landslide1
Winter Storm1

Most recent

Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
Apr 17, 2018Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
May 21, 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
Jun 30, 2012Severe StormsEmergency
May 15, 2009Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and LandslidesMajor disaster
Jun 19, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Mudslides, AndMajor disaster
Sep 5, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Show all 19
Sep 20, 2004Severe Storms, Flooding, and LandslidesMajor disaster
Jun 7, 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 13, 1996Blizzard of 96 (Severe Snow Storm)Major disaster
Mar 17, 1993Severe Snowfall & Winter StormEmergency
Mar 13, 1967FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1981

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 109 storm reports in Wirt County since 1981 and about $3.2 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF1 tornado on September 16, 2010 near Enterprise.

1tornadoes
16hail reports, largest 2 inches
65damaging thunderstorm winds
26floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Sep 16, 2010EF1Enterprise0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 29, 2012Thunderstorm WindElizabeth$750K
Feb 18, 2000Flash FloodCountywide$600K
Jun 28, 2008Thunderstorm WindElizabeth$350K
Mar 2, 1997Flash FloodCountywide$300K
Jun 28, 1998Flash FloodCountywide$200K
Jun 28, 1998Flash FloodCountywide$200K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 4, 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 Wirt County, 2 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, with top winds near 50 mph about 63 miles away.

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

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph63 mi
Sep 22, 1989HugoTropical storm, 45 mph42 mi
Sep 14, 1979FredericTropical storm, 40 mph49 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 22, 1989HugoTropical storm, 45 mph42 mi
Sep 14, 1979FredericTropical storm, 40 mph49 mi
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph63 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 Wirt County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.5%of homes have federal flood insurance (15 policies)
3.1%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$534,907paid on 67 flood claims since 1978
1997costliest year, with $257,720 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 Wirt County

$115,800median home value (West Virginia $162,600, US $332,700)
1985median year homes were built (West Virginia 1976, US 1980)
42%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
25.9%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; 2,725 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
Wood CountyLow16
Jackson CountyLow22
Roane CountyLow23
Ritchie CountyVery Low19
Calhoun CountyVery Low22

Common questions about Wirt County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Wirt County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Wirt County, about $3.6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Strong wind is second at $60,581.

How many federal disasters has Wirt County had?

Wirt County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1967, including 14 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is Wirt County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 55th 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 Wirt County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 200 homes in Wirt 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 Wirt County had?

NOAA records list 1 tornadoes in Wirt County since 1950. The strongest was an EF1 tornado on September 16, 2010 near Enterprise. The weather service has also logged 16 hail reports and 26 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Wirt County?

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