West Virginia natural disasters & FEMA declarations
WV · 25th most declarations of 51 states/DC
West Virginia has had 84 federally declared disasters since 1954, the 25th most of any US state or DC. Its most common hazard is Flood (35 declarations, about 42% of the total). The most recent declaration was "Severe Winter Storm" (Winter Storm), on Jan 24, 2026.
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Declarations by hazard type
These are the distinct FEMA disaster declarations for West Virginia, grouped by their primary incident type. A single declaration can affect many counties; each is counted once here.
| Hazard / incident type | Declarations | Share of state total |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | 35 | 42% |
| Severe Storm | 28 | 33% |
| Hurricane | 5 | 6% |
| Snowstorm | 4 | 5% |
| Fire | 3 | 4% |
| Biological | 2 | 2% |
| Drought | 2 | 2% |
| Winter Storm | 1 | 1% |
| Tropical Storm | 1 | 1% |
| Severe Ice Storm | 1 | 1% |
| Mud/Landslide | 1 | 1% |
| Chemical | 1 | 1% |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Declarations by program type
FEMA issues several kinds of declaration. Major Disaster (DR) declarations unlock the widest assistance; Emergency (EM) declarations are more limited; and Fire Management Assistance (FM) grants help fight large wildfires.
| Declaration type | Declarations |
|---|---|
| Major Disaster (DR) | 72 |
| Emergency (EM) | 10 |
| Fire Management Assistance (FM) | 2 |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Declarations by decade
How West Virginia's declaration count has changed over time. Earlier decades reflect both fewer disasters and a narrower federal declaration program; recent decades are the most complete.
| Decade | Declarations |
|---|---|
| 1950s | 2 |
| 1960s | 7 |
| 1970s | 11 |
| 1980s | 3 |
| 1990s | 9 |
| 2000s | 17 |
| 2010s | 22 |
| 2020s | 13 |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Most recent declarations
| Date | Title | Type | FEMA ID |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 24, 2026 | Severe Winter Storm | Winter Storm | EM-3639-WV |
| Jul 22, 2025 | Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Flood | DR-4884-WV |
| Feb 26, 2025 | Severe Storm, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Severe Storm | DR-4861-WV |
| Dec 9, 2024 | Post-tropical Storm Helene | Tropical Storm | DR-4851-WV |
| May 24, 2024 | Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Flood | DR-4787-WV |
| May 22, 2024 | Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Severe Storm | DR-4783-WV |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Notable earthquakes in or near West Virginia
No magnitude-6.0+ earthquakes are attributed to West Virginia in the USGS catalog used here. That does not mean the state has zero seismic risk — smaller earthquakes occur in most states. See our earthquake risk by region guide.
Frequently asked questions
How many federally declared disasters has West Virginia had?
West Virginia has had 84 distinct FEMA disaster declarations since 1954, the 25th most of any US state or DC, according to FEMA's Disaster Declarations Summaries.
What is the most common disaster in West Virginia?
The most common federally declared disaster type in West Virginia is "Flood", with 35 declarations — about 42% of the state's total.
When was the most recent disaster declaration in West Virginia?
The most recent FEMA declaration in West Virginia in this snapshot was "Severe Winter Storm" (Winter Storm), declared Jan 24, 2026.
Related
Source & notes
Disaster data from OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2; earthquake data from USGS Earthquake Hazards Program (FDSN event service). Both are US public domain. Counts are distinct declarations (a declaration affecting many counties is counted once). HazardMap is not affiliated with or endorsed by FEMA or USGS; this is general information, not safety or insurance advice. Verify with official sources.
Last updated: 2026-06-18