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Wyoming County, West Virginia

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

Relatively Low overall risk
16th of 55highest risk in West Virginia
$19Mexpected losses a year
28federal declarations
1 in 34homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Wyoming County, West Virginia has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 67% of US counties. It ranks 16th of 55 counties in West Virginia. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $19 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $885 per resident. Since 1967 it has been included in 28 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (21 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). About 1 in 34 homes here carry federal flood insurance (293 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $14 million on 923 claims here, including $7.8 million for floods in 2001.

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

Top risks in Wyoming County

$15.8 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

Moderate
$2.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
$188,674 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 floodingModerate82.7
$16M
Cold waveModerate76.4
$2M
Strong windLow27.3
$189K
WildfireLow74.5
$180K
AvalancheModerate78.8
$145K
EarthquakeVery Low40.7
$114K
LightningLow39.2
$111K
LandslideModerate94.3
$78K
HurricaneVery Low51.1
$58K
HailVery Low21.1
$55K
TornadoVery Low9.2
$40K
Winter weatherLow37.6
$30K
Heat waveVery Low14.7
$25K
Ice stormVery Low20.8
$12K
DroughtVery Low14.8
$367

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 very low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm12
Flood7
Snowstorm3
Hurricane3
Drought1
Fire1

Most recent

Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
Feb 26, 2025Severe Storm, Straight-Line Winds, 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
Jun 24, 2010Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and LandslidesMajor disaster
Mar 2, 2010Severe Winter Storm and SnowstormMajor disaster
May 15, 2009Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and LandslidesMajor disaster
Show all 28
May 1, 2007Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Sep 5, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jun 7, 2004Severe Storms, Flooding, and LandslidesMajor disaster
Nov 21, 2003Severe Storms, Flooding, and LandslidesMajor disaster
Jun 21, 2003Severe Storms, Flooding, and LandslidesMajor disaster
Mar 14, 2003Severe Winter Storm, Record/Near Record Snow, Heavy Rains, Flooding and LandslidesMajor disaster
May 5, 2002Severe Storms, Flooding and LandslidesMajor disaster
Nov 16, 2001Wv - Southeast Fire Complex - 11/16/2001Fire management
Jun 3, 2001Severe Storms, Flooding and LandslidesMajor disaster
May 23, 1996Flooding, Heavy WindsMajor disaster
Jan 13, 1996Blizzard of 96 (Severe Snow Storm)Major disaster
Mar 17, 1993Severe Snowfall & Winter StormEmergency
Apr 7, 1977Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 19, 1977DroughtEmergency
Apr 11, 1974Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 23, 1972Heavy Rains & FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 27, 1972Heavy Rains & FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 13, 1967FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1974

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 232 storm reports in Wyoming County since 1974, with 2 deaths and 10 injuries and about $78 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F1 tornado on April 4, 1974.

1tornadoes
90hail reports, largest 2 inches
96damaging thunderstorm winds
41floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 4, 1974F1–9 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jul 8, 2001Flash FloodEast Portion$60M
May 9, 2009FloodOceana$10M
Apr 4, 1974Tornado–$3M
Jun 12, 2010Flash FloodCyclone$2M
May 17, 2001Flash FloodCyclone$700K
May 31, 2004Flash FloodNorth Portion$500K

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 1989, 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm have passed within 65 miles of the center of Wyoming County, 1 of them since 1950. The strongest was Tropical Storm Hugo (1989), with top winds near 60 mph about 59 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
1tropical storms
1989most recent: Hugo

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 22, 1989HugoTropical storm, 60 mph59 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 22, 1989HugoTropical storm, 60 mph59 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 Wyoming County

Check your address flood zone ›
2.9%of homes have federal flood insurance (293 policies)
17.9%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$14.2 millionpaid on 923 flood claims since 1978
2001costliest year, with $7.8 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 Wyoming County

$82,900median home value (West Virginia $162,600, US $332,700)
1974median year homes were built (West Virginia 1976, US 1980)
63%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
25.2%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; 9,953 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
Raleigh CountyLow27
Mercer CountyLow25
Logan CountyLow33
Mingo CountyLow34
Boone CountyLow28
McDowell CountyLow25

Common questions about Wyoming County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Wyoming County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Wyoming County, about $15.8 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $2.1 million.

How many federal disasters has Wyoming County had?

Wyoming County has been included in 28 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1967, including 21 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is Wyoming County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 16th 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 Wyoming County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 34 homes in Wyoming 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 Wyoming County had?

NOAA records list 1 tornadoes in Wyoming County since 1950. The strongest was an F1 tornado on April 4, 1974. The weather service has also logged 90 hail reports and 41 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Wyoming County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm passing within 65 miles of the center of Wyoming County. The strongest was Tropical Storm Hugo (1989), 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.