Lewis County, WV
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Lewis 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.
Lewis County's highest-rated hazards are landslide, inland flooding, and hurricane, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have decreased 33% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Lewis County has been designated in 25 declarations since 1967, covering 6 disaster types including severe storm (10), flood (7), hurricane (3).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2026 | Flood | Severe Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, 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 |
| 2015 | Flood | Severe Storms, 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 | 7.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 69.1 | 19 | 0 | $75K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 26 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 19.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Very Low | 11.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 47.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Very Low | 28.6 | 16 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | 14.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 28.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 5.3 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 31.9 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 42 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Low | 33.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Moderate | 89.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 19.3 | — | — | — |
| 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
Lewis County ranks in the 56th 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 | 56th | Moderate |
| Socioeconomic status | 56th | Moderate |
| Household characteristics | 44th | Low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 17th | Very low |
| Housing type & transportation | 76th | High |
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 | 33rd | Relatively Low |
| Risk to homes | 32nd | Relatively Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 75.1% | — |
NOAA tracked 35 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 21 in 2016–20 vs 14 in 2021–25 (-33% — 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 Lewis County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Lewis County, West Virginia are landslide, inland flooding, and hurricane. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Lewis County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Lewis County has received 25 federal disaster declarations since 1967, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (10 declarations).
Has Lewis County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Lewis County include Severe Winter Storm (2026), Severe Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (2026). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1967.
How does Lewis County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Harrison County, WV has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Gilmer County, WV has the lowest (Very Low). Lewis County is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Lewis County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Lewis 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. Lewis County's composite score of 44 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 44% of US counties.