McDowell County, WV
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
McDowell County has experienced 27 federally declared disasters since 1972, most recently Severe Winter Storm in 2026. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
McDowell County's highest-rated hazards are landslide, cold wave, and inland flooding, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. NOAA records 50 storm events in the county over the past decade. Community vulnerability is elevated (87th 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. McDowell County has been designated in 27 declarations since 1972, covering 7 disaster types including severe storm (12), flood (6), snowstorm (3).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2025 | Severe Storm | Severe Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| 2023 | Flood | Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2015 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| 2013 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2012 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Straight-Line Winds |
| 2012 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms |
| 2010 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Showing the 10 most recent of 27 total declarations since 1972.
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 | Relatively Low | 69.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Moderate | 84.7 | 38 | 3 | $11.6M |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 58.6 | 1 | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 12.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Very Low | 11.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 55.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Very Low | 23.9 | 12 | 0 | $175K |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 72 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 27.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 17.6 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively High | 92.8 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 39.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | No Rating | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Moderate | 95.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Relatively Low | 75.9 | — | — | — |
| 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
McDowell County ranks in the 87th percentile (High) 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 | 87th | High |
| Socioeconomic status | 91st | High |
| Household characteristics | 82nd | High |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 52nd | Moderate |
| 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 | 89th | Very High |
| Risk to homes | 85th | Very High |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 82.5% | — |
NOAA tracked 50 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 24 in 2016–20 vs 26 in 2021–25 (+8% — relatively stable).
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 McDowell County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in McDowell County, West Virginia are landslide, cold wave, and inland flooding. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has McDowell County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. McDowell County has received 27 federal disaster declarations since 1972, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (12 declarations).
Has McDowell County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for McDowell County include Severe Winter Storm (2026), Severe Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (2025). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1972.
How does McDowell County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Wyoming County, WV has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Bland County, VA has the lowest (Very Low). McDowell County is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is McDowell County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
McDowell 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. McDowell County's composite score of 77 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 77% of US counties.