Natural Disasters in Union, WV

Hazard risk, disaster history, and FEMA data

Natural Hazard Risk

Source: FEMA National Risk Index

Risk Score

28.3

Very Low

Expected Annual Loss

18.9

Score (0-100)

Social Vulnerability

84.0

Score (0-100)

Community Resilience

14.7

Score (0-100)

Top Hazard Risks

Landslide89.2Cold Wave67.8Avalanche53.4

Hazard	Risk Score
Landslide	89.2
Cold Wave	67.8
Avalanche	53.4
Wildfire	50.3
Hurricane	45.6
Earthquake	44.1
Lightning	40.8
Winter Weather	39.0
Drought	35.1
Strong Wind	23.5
Hail	17.9
Ice Storm	15.4
Tornado	9.7
Heat Wave	1.8

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
Feb 26, 2025	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORM, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, FLOODING, LANDSLIDES, AND MUDSLIDES
Apr 3, 2020	Biological	COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Mar 13, 2020	Biological	COVID-19
Jun 25, 2016	Flood	SEVERE STORMS, 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
Sep 5, 2005	Hurricane	HURRICANE KATRINA EVACUATION
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
Jan 25, 1996	Flood	FLOODING
Jan 13, 1996	Snowstorm	BLIZZARD OF 96 (SEVERE SNOW STORM)
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
Jul 3, 1972	Flood	TROPICAL STORM AGNES
Mar 13, 1967	Flood	FLOODING

Individual Assistance

Source: FEMA Housing Assistance

Total IA Registrations

119

Total IA Distributed

$172,155

Repair/Replace

$79,385

Rental Assistance

$5,953

Disaster	Registrations	Total IA $	Avg Damage
DR-4517	11	$74,727	—
DR-1500	29	$46,157	$2,148
DR-1455	13	$30,832	$4,544
DR-4273	16	$11,053	$1,247
DR-4071	50	$9,385	$474

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

Flood Insurance (NFIP)

Source: FEMA NFIP

Total Claims

Total Claims Paid

$1,700,056

Avg Claim Payout

$19,102

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

Disaster Recovery Spending

Source: FEMA Public Assistance

Total Federal Spending

$4,192,962

Disasters with PA

Total Projects

Disaster	Type	Projects	Federal $
DR-4273	Flood	9	$3,964,916
DR-4071	Severe Storm(s)	8	$137,918
DR-4861	Severe Storm(s)	6	$90,128

Hazard Mitigation

Source: FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance

Mitigation Projects

Federal Funding

$305,736

Properties Protected

Avg Benefit-Cost Ratio

0.62

BCR

Top Mitigation Project Types

Project Type	Projects	Federal $
200.1: Acquisition of Private Real Property (Structures and Land) - Riverine	1	$293,654
207.2: Mitigation Reconstruction	1	$0
200.3: Acquisition of Public Real Property (Structures and Land) - Riverine	1	$12,082

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

Union has a very low overall natural hazard risk rating according to FEMA's National Risk Index. The top hazard risks are landslide, cold wave, avalanche. The area has had 19 federal disaster declarations. The most common disaster type is severe storm (5 declarations). 89 flood insurance claims have been filed in the area. FEMA has obligated $4,192,962 in public assistance recovery funding. $172,155 has been distributed in individual assistance to disaster-affected residents. 3 hazard mitigation projects have been funded to reduce future risk.