Natural Disasters in Williamstown, WV

Hazard risk, disaster history, and FEMA data

Natural Hazard Risk

Source: FEMA National Risk Index

Risk Score

79.8

Relatively Low

Expected Annual Loss

77.8

Score (0-100)

Social Vulnerability

58.6

Score (0-100)

Community Resilience

88.5

Score (0-100)

Top Hazard Risks

Landslide86.9Lightning76.1Ice Storm73.9

Hazard	Risk Score
Landslide	86.9
Lightning	76.1
Ice Storm	73.9
Heat Wave	67.5
Strong Wind	62.0
Hurricane	60.0
Hail	58.2
Earthquake	53.6
Winter Weather	33.3
Tornado	32.9
Drought	27.8
Wildfire	26.0
Cold Wave	16.1

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

6 declarations

Date	Type	Declaration
Jan 24, 2026	Winter Storm	SEVERE WINTER STORM
May 24, 2024	Flood	SEVERE STORMS, 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 7, 2015	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, 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
Sep 5, 2005	Hurricane	HURRICANE KATRINA EVACUATION
Sep 20, 2004	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS, FLOODING, AND LANDSLIDES
Jul 1, 1998	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING
Mar 7, 1997	Flood	HEAVY & WIND DRIVEN RAIN, HIGH WINDS,FLOODING,SLIDES
Jan 25, 1996	Flood	FLOODING
Jan 13, 1996	Snowstorm	BLIZZARD OF 96 (SEVERE SNOW STORM)
Mar 17, 1993	Snowstorm	SEVERE SNOWFALL & WINTER STORM
Mar 13, 1967	Flood	FLOODING

Individual Assistance

Source: FEMA Housing Assistance

Total IA Registrations

1,368

Total IA Distributed

$5,376,701

Repair/Replace

$1,313,069

Rental Assistance

$276,346

Disaster	Registrations	Total IA $	Avg Damage
DR-1556	773	$3,139,351	$6,002
DR-4507	251	$1,543,436	—
DR-1558	139	$357,746	$7,947
DR-4517	29	$131,753	—
DR-1580	69	$122,129	$3,803
DR-1507	40	$30,938	$1,271
DR-4787	14	$30,385	$3,530
DR-4071	53	$20,963	$467

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

Flood Insurance (NFIP)

Source: FEMA NFIP

Total Claims

947

Total Claims Paid

$13,244,361

Avg Claim Payout

$13,986

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

Disaster Recovery Spending

Source: FEMA Public Assistance

Total Federal Spending

$10,971,576

Disasters with PA

Total Projects

Disaster	Type	Projects	Federal $
DR-4517	Biological	11	$7,884,349
DR-4359	Flood	14	$2,223,041
DR-4071	Severe Storm(s)	40	$399,413
DR-4236	Severe Storm(s)	3	$280,707
DR-4756	Flood	1	$119,419
DR-1558	Severe Storm(s)	8	$64,648

Hazard Mitigation

Source: FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance

Mitigation Projects

Federal Funding

$2,218,267

Properties Protected

Avg Benefit-Cost Ratio

1.00

BCR

Top Mitigation Project Types

Project Type	Projects	Federal $
200.1: Acquisition of Private Real Property (Structures and Land) - Riverine	5	$2,218,267

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

Williamstown has a relatively low overall natural hazard risk rating according to FEMA's National Risk Index. The top hazard risks are landslide, lightning, ice storm. The area has had 18 federal disaster declarations. The most common disaster type is severe storm (6 declarations). 947 flood insurance claims have been filed in the area. FEMA has obligated $10,971,576 in public assistance recovery funding. $5,376,701 has been distributed in individual assistance to disaster-affected residents. 5 hazard mitigation projects have been funded to reduce future risk.