Fayette County, WV
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Fayette County has experienced 25 federally declared disasters since 1967, most recently Severe Winter Storm in 2026. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Fayette County's highest-rated hazards are lightning, landslide, and avalanche, with its top risk rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have decreased 20% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period. Community vulnerability is elevated (70th percentile nationally), suggesting residents may face greater difficulty recovering from major disasters.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Fayette County has been designated in 25 declarations since 1967, covering 7 disaster types including severe storm (11), flood (4), hurricane (3).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2024 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| 2023 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2016 | Flood | Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| 2015 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| 2013 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2013 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2012 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Straight-Line Winds |
Showing the 10 most recent of 25 total declarations since 1967.
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries. A single disaster can produce more than one record per county. Data current through September 2026.
Risk by hazard type
| Hazard | Risk rating | Risk score | Recorded events | Deaths | Prop. damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | Very Low | 49.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 72.9 | 33 | 1 | $12.9M |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 52.3 | 10 | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 11.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Very Low | 10.7 | 1 | 0 | $100K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 42 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Very Low | 30.2 | 20 | 0 | $250K |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | 37.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | 61 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | 43.8 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 26.1 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively High | 90.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Very Low | 18.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Moderate | 89 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Relatively Low | 76.5 | — | — | — |
| Tsunami | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Volcanic Activity | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
Scores are 0–100 percentiles relative to all US counties — higher means more exposed, not that a disaster is likely this year. Event counts: NOAA Storm Events 2016–2026; earthquake counts from USGS ComCat (M3.0+, 1996–2026). See the methodology page for details.
Community vulnerability
Fayette County ranks in the 70th percentile (Moderate) for community vulnerability — a measure of how hard disaster impacts tend to hit residents. Higher vulnerability means more displacement, worse health outcomes, and slower recovery after a disaster.
| SVI theme | Percentile | Vulnerability level |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 70th | Moderate |
| Socioeconomic status | 79th | High |
| Household characteristics | 52nd | Moderate |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 21st | Very low |
| Housing type & transportation | 74th | Moderate |
Source: CDC/ATSDR Social Vulnerability Index 2022. Percentiles compare counties nationally — higher means more vulnerable relative to other counties. See CDC SVI for full methodology.
Future risk outlook
| Wildfire metric | National percentile | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Burn probability | 80th | Very High |
| Risk to homes | 78th | Relatively High |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 66.6% | — |
NOAA tracked 54 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 30 in 2016–20 vs 24 in 2021–25 (-20% — frequency decreasing).
Wildfire: USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (RDS-2020-0016-2) — modeled values, not annual forecasts. See wildfirerisk.org. Inland flood and heat projections pending data availability; coastal sea-level projections are available for select coastal counties below — see the data page.
Nearby counties
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards pose the greatest risk in Fayette County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Fayette County, West Virginia are lightning, landslide, and avalanche. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Fayette County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Fayette County has received 25 federal disaster declarations since 1967, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (11 declarations).
Has Fayette County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Fayette County include Severe Winter Storm (2026), Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (2024). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1967.
How does Fayette County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Kanawha County, WV has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively High) and Clay County, WV has the lowest (Very Low). Fayette County is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Fayette County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Fayette County's composite disaster risk index — officially FEMA's National Risk Index (NRI) — scores every US county on a 0–100 percentile scale across 18 natural hazard types, factoring in expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience. Fayette County's composite score of 53 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 53% of US counties.