Natural Disasters in McMechen, WV

Hazard risk, disaster history, and FEMA data

Natural Hazard Risk

Source: FEMA National Risk Index

Risk Score

56.8

Relatively Low

Expected Annual Loss

56.3

Score (0-100)

Social Vulnerability

49.7

Score (0-100)

Community Resilience

69.0

Score (0-100)

Top Hazard Risks

Landslide90.2Ice Storm58.6Lightning56.4

Hazard	Risk Score
Landslide	90.2
Ice Storm	58.6
Lightning	56.4
Hurricane	51.7
Hail	47.0
Avalanche	42.3
Drought	37.1
Heat Wave	31.6
Tornado	31.2
Earthquake	28.2
Wildfire	23.9
Strong Wind	19.8
Cold Wave	11.5
Winter Weather	2.5

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

10 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
Apr 3, 2020	Biological	COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Mar 13, 2020	Biological	COVID-19
Apr 17, 2018	Mud/Landslide	SEVERE STORMS, FLOODING, LANDSLIDES, AND MUDSLIDES
Aug 18, 2017	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS, FLOODING, LANDSLIDES, AND MUDSLIDES
May 18, 2015	Flood	SEVERE STORMS, FLOODING, LANDSLIDES, AND MUDSLIDES
Mar 31, 2015	Severe Storm	SEVERE WINTER STORM, FLOODING, LANDSLIDES, AND MUDSLIDES
Oct 29, 2012	Hurricane	HURRICANE SANDY
Jul 23, 2012	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS AND STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS
Jun 30, 2012	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS
Apr 23, 2010	Snowstorm	SEVERE WINTER STORMS AND SNOWSTORMS
Sep 5, 2005	Hurricane	HURRICANE KATRINA EVACUATION
Feb 1, 2005	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS, FLOODING, AND LANDSLIDES
Sep 20, 2004	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS, FLOODING, AND LANDSLIDES
Nov 21, 2003	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS, FLOODING, AND LANDSLIDES
Mar 14, 2003	Severe Storm	SEVERE WINTER STORM, RECORD/NEAR RECORD SNOW, HEAVY RAINS, FLOODING AND LANDSLIDES
Jul 1, 1998	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING
Jan 25, 1996	Flood	FLOODING

Showing 20 of 25 declarations

Individual Assistance

Source: FEMA Housing Assistance

Total IA Registrations

6,151

Total IA Distributed

$23,792,823

Repair/Replace

$12,323,513

Rental Assistance

$1,516,698

Disaster	Registrations	Total IA $	Avg Damage
DR-1544	1	N/A	—
DR-1558	3,286	$8,641,946	$6,153
DR-4884	457	$6,371,725	$20,564
DR-1556	1,175	$4,133,645	$7,567
DR-4517	346	$2,022,856	—
DR-4783	325	$1,317,416	$11,790
DR-4331	255	$562,096	$1,881
DR-4787	78	$305,385	$7,242
DR-4507	42	$191,976	—
DR-1580	134	$174,124	$1,732

Showing top 10 of 12 disasters by IA amount

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

Flood Insurance (NFIP)

Source: FEMA NFIP

Total Claims

541

Total Claims Paid

$4,282,273

Avg Claim Payout

$7,915

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

Disaster Recovery Spending

Source: FEMA Public Assistance

Total Federal Spending

$42,630,210

Disasters with PA

Total Projects

241

Disaster	Type	Projects	Federal $
DR-4359	Flood	31	$18,772,467
DR-4783	Severe Storm(s)	64	$15,288,312
DR-4787	Flood	37	$6,825,166
DR-4331	Severe Storm(s)	15	$633,260
DR-1558	Severe Storm(s)	70	$613,097
DR-4884	Severe Storm(s)	2	$452,894
DR-4071	Severe Storm(s)	16	$29,680
DR-1903	Snow	4	$12,254
DR-1500	Severe Storm(s)	2	$3,079

Hazard Mitigation

Source: FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance

Mitigation Projects

Federal Funding

$106,930

Properties Protected

Avg Benefit-Cost Ratio

1.54

BCR

Top Mitigation Project Types

Project Type	Projects	Federal $
200.1: Acquisition of Private Real Property (Structures and Land) - Riverine	1	$106,930

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

McMechen has a relatively low overall natural hazard risk rating according to FEMA's National Risk Index. The top hazard risks are landslide, ice storm, lightning. The area has had 25 federal disaster declarations. The most common disaster type is severe storm (10 declarations). 541 flood insurance claims have been filed in the area. FEMA has obligated $42,630,210 in public assistance recovery funding. $23,792,823 has been distributed in individual assistance to disaster-affected residents. 1 hazard mitigation projects have been funded to reduce future risk.