Natural Disasters in Dunbar, WV

Hazard risk, disaster history, and FEMA data

Natural Hazard Risk

Source: FEMA National Risk Index

Risk Score

94.5

Relatively High

Expected Annual Loss

93.9

Score (0-100)

Social Vulnerability

58.0

Score (0-100)

Community Resilience

82.4

Score (0-100)

Top Hazard Risks

Landslide96.2Heat Wave91.7Lightning91.3

Hazard	Risk Score
Landslide	96.2
Heat Wave	91.7
Lightning	91.3
Strong Wind	88.8
Winter Weather	87.2
Hail	83.0
Ice Storm	81.6
Earthquake	76.3
Avalanche	75.0
Hurricane	64.4
Wildfire	61.5
Tornado	35.2
Cold Wave	32.2
Drought	23.0

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

Most Recent

Winter Storm

Jan 2026

Most Common Type

Severe Storm

13 declarations

Date	Type	Declaration
Jan 24, 2026	Winter Storm	SEVERE WINTER STORM
May 24, 2024	Flood	SEVERE STORMS, FLOODING, LANDSLIDES, AND MUDSLIDES
May 22, 2024	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, TORNADOES, FLOODING, LANDSLIDES, AND MUDSLIDES
Jan 30, 2024	Flood	SEVERE STORMS, FLOODING, LANDSLIDES, AND MUDSLIDES
May 20, 2021	Flood	SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING
Apr 3, 2020	Biological	COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Mar 13, 2020	Biological	COVID-19
Jun 25, 2016	Flood	SEVERE STORMS, FLOODING, LANDSLIDES, AND MUDSLIDES
Mar 31, 2015	Severe Storm	SEVERE WINTER STORM, FLOODING, LANDSLIDES, AND MUDSLIDES
Jan 10, 2014	Chemical	CHEMICAL SPILL
Nov 27, 2012	Hurricane	HURRICANE SANDY
Oct 29, 2012	Hurricane	HURRICANE SANDY
Jul 23, 2012	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS AND STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS
Jun 30, 2012	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS
Mar 29, 2010	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS, FLOODING, MUDSLIDES, AND LANDSLIDES
Mar 2, 2010	Snowstorm	SEVERE WINTER STORM AND SNOWSTORM
Sep 5, 2005	Hurricane	HURRICANE KATRINA EVACUATION
Sep 20, 2004	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS, FLOODING, AND LANDSLIDES
Jun 7, 2004	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS, FLOODING, AND LANDSLIDES
Nov 21, 2003	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS, FLOODING, AND LANDSLIDES

Showing 20 of 34 declarations

Flood Insurance (NFIP)

Source: FEMA NFIP

Total Claims

2,445

Total Claims Paid

$42,993,764

Avg Claim Payout

$17,584

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

Disaster Recovery Spending

Source: FEMA Public Assistance

Total Federal Spending

$64,199,348

Disasters with PA

Total Projects

301

Disaster	Type	Projects	Federal $
DR-4273	Flood	72	$29,412,644
DR-4517	Biological	69	$21,538,825
DR-4210	Severe Storm(s)	8	$4,354,681
DR-4756	Flood	16	$3,463,441
DR-4605	Severe Storm(s)	11	$2,087,999
DR-4603	Winter Storm	6	$1,424,088
DR-4071	Severe Storm(s)	56	$1,055,456
DR-1500	Severe Storm(s)	50	$463,908
DR-4787	Flood	1	$196,292
DR-4093	Hurricane	9	$175,076
DR-1558	Severe Storm(s)	3	$26,940

Hazard Mitigation

Source: FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance

Mitigation Projects

Federal Funding

$24,633,246

Properties Protected

249

Avg Benefit-Cost Ratio

1.93

BCR

Top Mitigation Project Types

Project Type	Projects	Federal $
200.1: Acquisition of Private Real Property (Structures and Land) - Riverine	51	$15,589,540
200.3: Acquisition of Public Real Property (Structures and Land) - Riverine	5	$2,996,113
601.2: Generators - Regular	3	$119,753
207.2: Mitigation Reconstruction	3	$813,287
403.1: Stormwater Management - Culverts	1	$2,585,700

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

Dunbar has a relatively high overall natural hazard risk rating according to FEMA's National Risk Index. The top hazard risks are landslide, heat wave, lightning. The area has had 34 federal disaster declarations. The most common disaster type is severe storm (13 declarations). 2,445 flood insurance claims have been filed in the area. FEMA has obligated $64,199,348 in public assistance recovery funding. 70 hazard mitigation projects have been funded to reduce future risk.