Monongalia County, WV
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Monongalia County has experienced 21 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.
Monongalia County's highest-rated hazards are landslide, inland flooding, and lightning, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have increased 100% 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. Monongalia County has been designated in 21 declarations since 1972, covering 8 disaster types including severe storm (7), flood (4), snowstorm (3).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2018 | Mud/Landslide | Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| 2017 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| 2015 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| 2013 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2012 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Mudslides, And Landslides |
| 2012 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms |
| 2010 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storms And Snowstorms |
Showing the 10 most recent of 21 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 | Very Low | 30.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Moderate | 85 | 44 | 0 | $105K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 44.4 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 41.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 46 | 4 | 0 | $102K |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | 63.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 64.4 | 32 | 0 | $6K |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 60 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 44.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | 48.5 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 23.1 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | 76.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Very Low | 21.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Moderate | 88.2 | 1 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 47.4 | — | — | — |
| 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
Monongalia County ranks in the 33rd percentile (Low) 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 | 33rd | Low |
| Socioeconomic status | 53rd | Moderate |
| Household characteristics | 0th | Very low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 37th | Low |
| Housing type & transportation | 82nd | 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 | 31st | Relatively Low |
| Risk to homes | 30th | Relatively Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 56.0% | — |
NOAA tracked 81 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 27 in 2016–20 vs 54 in 2021–25 (+100% — frequency increasing).
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 Monongalia County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Monongalia County, West Virginia are landslide, inland flooding, and lightning. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Monongalia County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Monongalia County has received 21 federal disaster declarations since 1972, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (7 declarations).
Has Monongalia County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Monongalia County include Severe Winter Storm (2026). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1972.
How does Monongalia County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Fayette County, PA has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and Taylor County, WV has the lowest (Very Low). Monongalia County is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Monongalia County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Monongalia 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. Monongalia County's composite score of 72 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 72% of US counties.