Natural Disasters in Bethany, WV

Hazard risk, disaster history, and FEMA data

Natural Hazard Risk

Source: FEMA National Risk Index

Risk Score

54.2

Relatively Low

Expected Annual Loss

44.1

Score (0-100)

Social Vulnerability

85.7

Score (0-100)

Community Resilience

57.1

Score (0-100)

Scores range from 0 (lowest risk) to 100 (highest risk) relative to all U.S. communities. Data from FEMA National Risk Index.

Disaster History & Federal Spending

Source: FEMA

Total Declarations

Public Assistance

$2.0M

Individual Assistance

$4.7M

Most Common Type

Severe Storm

5 declarations

Disaster	Type	Date	PA $	IA $
Severe Winter Storm →	Winter Storm	Jan 2026	—	—
Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides →	Flood	May 2024	—	—
Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides →	Severe Storm	May 2024	$63K	$21K
Covid-19 Pandemic →	Biological	Apr 2020	—	$115K
Covid-19 →	Biological	Mar 2020	—	—
Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides →	Mud/Landslide	Apr 2018	$1.1M	—
Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides →	Flood	May 2015	—	—
Hurricane Sandy →	Hurricane	Oct 2012	—	—
Severe Storms →	Severe Storm	Jun 2012	—	—
Severe Winter Storms and Snowstorms →	Snowstorm	Apr 2010	$92K	—
Hurricane Katrina Evacuation →	Hurricane	Sep 2005	—	—
Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides →	Severe Storm	Feb 2005	—	—
Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides →	Severe Storm	Sep 2004	$773K	$2.0M
Severe Winter Storm, Record/near Record Snow, Heavy Rains, Flooding and Landslides →	Severe Storm	Mar 2003	—	—
Flooding →	Flood	Jan 1996	—	—
Blizzard of 96 (severe Snow Storm) →	Snowstorm	Jan 1996	—	—
Severe Snowfall & Winter Storm →	Snowstorm	Mar 1993	—	—
Tropical Storm Agnes →	Flood	Jul 1972	—	—
Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides →	Unknown	—	—	$1.2M
Severe Storms and Flooding →	Unknown	—	—	$832K

Showing 20 of 28 disasters

PA = FEMA Public Assistance (infrastructure recovery). IA = Individual Assistance (homeowner/renter aid).

Flood Insurance (NFIP)

Source: FEMA NFIP

Total Claims

488

Total Claims Paid

$6,383,845

Avg Claim Payout

$13,082

County-level NFIP data from FEMA National Flood Insurance Program.

Hazard Mitigation

Source: FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance

Mitigation Projects

Federal Funding

$1,492,823

Properties Protected

Avg Benefit-Cost Ratio

1.87

BCR

Top Mitigation Project Types

Project Type	Projects	Federal $
200.1: Acquisition of Private Real Property (Structures and Land) - Riverine	6	$787,692
207.2: Mitigation Reconstruction	4	$0
403.3: Stormwater Management - Flapgates/Floodgates	1	$637
401.1: Water and Sanitary Sewer System Protective Measures; 403.1: Stormwater Management - Culverts	1	$704,494

Federally funded projects to reduce future disaster risk. Only includes completed or obligated projects.

Bethany has a relatively low overall natural hazard risk rating according to FEMA's National Risk Index. The top hazard risks are landslide, hurricane, lightning. The area has had 18 federal disaster declarations. The most common disaster type is severe storm (5 declarations). 488 flood insurance claims have been filed in the area. FEMA has obligated $2,039,621 in public assistance recovery funding. $4,705,114 has been distributed in individual assistance to disaster-affected residents. 12 hazard mitigation projects have been funded to reduce future risk.