Natural Disasters in Elk Garden, WV

Hazard risk, disaster history, and FEMA data

Natural Hazard Risk

Source: FEMA National Risk Index

Risk Score

52.8

Relatively Low

Expected Annual Loss

49.8

Score (0-100)

Social Vulnerability

60.7

Score (0-100)

Community Resilience

43.8

Score (0-100)

Top Hazard Risks

Landslide86.3Avalanche60.5Hurricane59.7

Hazard	Risk Score
Landslide	86.3
Avalanche	60.5
Hurricane	59.7
Drought	51.1
Winter Weather	46.6
Hail	42.0
Heat Wave	33.3
Strong Wind	32.5
Earthquake	32.3
Lightning	31.0
Wildfire	25.8
Ice Storm	20.9
Tornado	18.5
Cold Wave	14.0

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

5 declarations

Date	Type	Declaration
Jan 24, 2026	Winter Storm	SEVERE WINTER STORM
Apr 3, 2020	Biological	COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Mar 13, 2020	Biological	COVID-19
Jul 12, 2018	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS, FLOODING, LANDSLIDES, AND MUDSLIDES
Oct 29, 2012	Hurricane	HURRICANE SANDY
Jun 30, 2012	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS
Apr 23, 2010	Snowstorm	SEVERE WINTER STORMS AND SNOWSTORMS
Sep 5, 2005	Hurricane	HURRICANE KATRINA EVACUATION
Sep 23, 2003	Hurricane	HURRICANE ISABEL
Mar 14, 2003	Severe Storm	SEVERE WINTER STORM, RECORD/NEAR RECORD SNOW, HEAVY RAINS, FLOODING AND LANDSLIDES
Sep 11, 1996	Severe Storm	HURRICANE FRAN AND ASSOCIATED HEAVY RAINS,FLOODING HIGHWIND
Jan 25, 1996	Flood	FLOODING
Jan 13, 1996	Snowstorm	BLIZZARD OF 96 (SEVERE SNOW STORM)
Jul 12, 1995	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS, HEAVY RAINS, FLOODING, MUDSLIDES
Mar 17, 1993	Snowstorm	SEVERE SNOWFALL & WINTER STORM
Nov 7, 1985	Flood	SEVERE STORMS & FLOODING
Aug 24, 1977	Drought	DROUGHT
Jan 19, 1977	Drought	DROUGHT
Mar 13, 1967	Flood	FLOODING

Individual Assistance

Source: FEMA Housing Assistance

Total IA Registrations

Total IA Distributed

$328,174

Repair/Replace

$1,152

Rental Assistance

$474

Disaster	Registrations	Total IA $	Avg Damage
DR-4517	49	$300,566	—
DR-4491	3	$25,982	—
DR-1492	2	$1,626	$576

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

Flood Insurance (NFIP)

Source: FEMA NFIP

Total Claims

192

Total Claims Paid

$1,412,607

Avg Claim Payout

$7,357

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

Disaster Recovery Spending

Source: FEMA Public Assistance

Total Federal Spending

$1,301,498

Disasters with PA

Total Projects

Disaster	Type	Projects	Federal $
DR-4378	Severe Storm(s)	11	$1,165,195
DR-1903	Snow	12	$75,560
DR-4455	Severe Storm(s)	2	$60,743

Hazard Mitigation

Source: FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance

Mitigation Projects

Federal Funding

$2,301,831

Properties Protected

Avg Benefit-Cost Ratio

1.64

BCR

Top Mitigation Project Types

Project Type	Projects	Federal $
200.1: Acquisition of Private Real Property (Structures and Land) - Riverine	7	$2,105,411
106.1: Other Non Construction (Regular Project Only)	2	$105,407
403.2: Stormwater Management - Diversions	1	$25,657
403.1: Stormwater Management - Culverts	1	$57,003
800.1: Miscellaneous	1	$8,353

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

Elk Garden has a relatively low overall natural hazard risk rating according to FEMA's National Risk Index. The top hazard risks are landslide, avalanche, hurricane. The area has had 19 federal disaster declarations. The most common disaster type is severe storm (5 declarations). 192 flood insurance claims have been filed in the area. FEMA has obligated $1,301,498 in public assistance recovery funding. $328,174 has been distributed in individual assistance to disaster-affected residents. 12 hazard mitigation projects have been funded to reduce future risk.