Morgan County, WV
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Morgan County has experienced 17 federally declared disasters since 1972, most recently Severe Winter Storm in 2026. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Morgan County's highest-rated hazards are landslide, hurricane, and strong wind, with its top risk rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have decreased 64% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period. Community vulnerability is relatively low (18th percentile nationally), indicating stronger recovery capacity than most US counties.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Morgan County has been designated in 17 declarations since 1972, covering 6 disaster types including severe storm (5), hurricane (3), snowstorm (3).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2018 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| 2013 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2012 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms |
| 2010 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storms And Snowstorms |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2004 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, And Landslides |
| 2003 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm, Record/Near Record Snow, Heavy Rains, Flooding And Landslides |
Showing the 10 most recent of 17 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 | 20.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 55.9 | 44 | 0 | — |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 30.4 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 34.8 | 14 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Very Low | 18.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | 62.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Very Low | 22.6 | 10 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 60.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 30.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 8.4 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 13.7 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Very Low | 18.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Low | 51.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | 82.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 52.9 | — | — | — |
| 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
Morgan County ranks in the 18th percentile (Very 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 | 18th | Very low |
| Socioeconomic status | 43rd | Low |
| Household characteristics | 8th | Very low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 11th | Very low |
| Housing type & transportation | 18th | Very low |
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 | 43rd | Relatively Moderate |
| Risk to homes | 46th | Relatively Moderate |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 88.8% | — |
NOAA tracked 68 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 50 in 2016–20 vs 18 in 2021–25 (-64% — 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 Morgan County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Morgan County, West Virginia are landslide, hurricane, and strong wind. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Morgan County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Morgan County has received 17 federal disaster declarations since 1972, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (5 declarations).
Has Morgan County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Morgan County include Severe Winter Storm (2026). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1972.
How does Morgan County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Washington County, MD has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Fulton County, PA has the lowest (Very Low). Morgan County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Morgan County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Morgan 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. Morgan County's composite score of 30 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 30% of US counties.