Natural Disasters in Cowen, WV

Hazard risk, disaster history, and FEMA data

Natural Hazard Risk

Source: FEMA National Risk Index

Risk Score

35.3

Very Low

Expected Annual Loss

18.9

Score (0-100)

Social Vulnerability

98.4

Score (0-100)

Community Resilience

9.5

Score (0-100)

Top Hazard Risks

Landslide89.2Avalanche72.7Cold Wave61.8
HazardRisk Score
Landslide89.2
Avalanche72.7
Cold Wave61.8
Lightning44.9
Hurricane31.9
Winter Weather30.1
Ice Storm29.2
Earthquake24.3
Hail14.9
Strong Wind14.0
Tornado4.5
Wildfire2.2
Heat Wave2.0

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

Disaster Declarations

Source: FEMA OpenFEMA

Total Declarations

23

Most Recent

Winter Storm

Jan 2026

Most Common Type

Severe Storm

10 declarations

DateTypeDeclaration
Jan 24, 2026Winter StormSEVERE WINTER STORM
Apr 3, 2020BiologicalCOVID-19 PANDEMIC
Mar 13, 2020BiologicalCOVID-19
Jun 25, 2016FloodSEVERE STORMS, FLOODING, LANDSLIDES, AND MUDSLIDES
Aug 7, 2015Severe StormSEVERE STORMS, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, FLOODING, LANDSLIDES, AND MUDSLIDES
Mar 31, 2015Severe StormSEVERE WINTER STORM, FLOODING, LANDSLIDES, AND MUDSLIDES
Nov 27, 2012HurricaneHURRICANE SANDY
Oct 29, 2012HurricaneHURRICANE SANDY
Jul 23, 2012Severe StormSEVERE STORMS AND STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS
Jun 30, 2012Severe StormSEVERE STORMS
Jun 19, 2008Severe StormSEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES, FLOODING, MUDSLIDES, AND
May 1, 2007Severe StormSEVERE STORMS, FLOODING, LANDSLIDES, AND MUDSLIDES
Sep 5, 2005HurricaneHURRICANE KATRINA EVACUATION
Jun 7, 2004Severe StormSEVERE STORMS, FLOODING, AND LANDSLIDES
Nov 21, 2003Severe StormSEVERE STORMS, FLOODING, AND LANDSLIDES
Mar 14, 2003Severe StormSEVERE WINTER STORM, RECORD/NEAR RECORD SNOW, HEAVY RAINS, FLOODING AND LANDSLIDES
Jul 1, 1998Severe StormSEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING
Aug 14, 1996FireHEAVY RAINS, HIGH WINDS, FLOODING, AND SLIDES
Jan 25, 1996FloodFLOODING
Jan 13, 1996SnowstormBLIZZARD OF 96 (SEVERE SNOW STORM)

Showing 20 of 23 declarations

Individual Assistance

Source: FEMA Housing Assistance

Total IA Registrations

884

Total IA Distributed

$3,083,294

Repair/Replace

$2,420,296

Rental Assistance

$208,959

DisasterRegistrationsTotal IA $Avg Damage
DR-4273511$2,626,262$7,811
DR-150077$245,732$3,914
DR-478319$70,934$1,007
DR-4071176$44,531$669
DR-145572$40,892$584
DR-45175$30,765—
DR-152223$22,871$1,768
DR-14741$1,306$1,306

Individual and household assistance for homeowners and renters affected by federally declared disasters.

Flood Insurance (NFIP)

Source: FEMA NFIP

Total Claims

199

Total Claims Paid

$2,454,281

Avg Claim Payout

$12,333

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

Disaster Recovery Spending

Source: FEMA Public Assistance

Total Federal Spending

$3,383,085

Disasters with PA

5

Total Projects

61

DisasterTypeProjectsFederal $
DR-4273Flood25$2,852,329
DR-4236Severe Storm(s)8$355,834
DR-4093Hurricane16$100,734
DR-4071Severe Storm(s)4$41,478
DR-1500Severe Storm(s)8$32,709

Hazard Mitigation

Source: FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance

Mitigation Projects

3

Federal Funding

$89,991

Properties Protected

41

Avg Benefit-Cost Ratio

0.67

BCR

Top Mitigation Project Types

Project TypeProjectsFederal $
207.2: Mitigation Reconstruction2$0
91.5: Local Multijurisdictional Multihazard Mitigation Plan - UPDATE1$89,991

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

Cowen has a very low overall natural hazard risk rating according to FEMA's National Risk Index. The top hazard risks are landslide, avalanche, cold wave. The area has had 23 federal disaster declarations. The most common disaster type is severe storm (10 declarations). 199 flood insurance claims have been filed in the area. FEMA has obligated $3,383,085 in public assistance recovery funding. $3,083,294 has been distributed in individual assistance to disaster-affected residents. 3 hazard mitigation projects have been funded to reduce future risk.