Summers County, WV
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Summers County has experienced 24 federally declared disasters since 1967, most recently Severe Winter Storm in 2026. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Summers County's highest-rated hazards are landslide, cold wave, and avalanche, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Summers County has been designated in 24 declarations since 1967, covering 7 disaster types including severe storm (9), flood (6), biological (2).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2025 | Severe Storm | Severe Storm, Straight-Line Winds, 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 |
| 2012 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Straight-Line Winds |
| 2012 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms |
Showing the 10 most recent of 24 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 | 46.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 59.6 | 12 | 0 | $1.2M |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 33.1 | 1 | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 2.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Very Low | 6.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 41.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Very Low | 13.4 | 5 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | 20.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 42.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 17.3 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | 76.3 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 38.5 | 2 | 0 | $31K |
| Drought | Very Low | 27.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Moderate | 88 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Relatively Low | 70.2 | — | — | — |
| 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
Summers County ranks in the 68th 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 | 68th | Moderate |
| Socioeconomic status | 62nd | Moderate |
| Household characteristics | 45th | Low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 23rd | Very low |
| Housing type & transportation | 93rd | 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 | 53rd | Relatively Moderate |
| Risk to homes | 52nd | Relatively Moderate |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 83.3% | — |
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 Summers County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Summers County, West Virginia are landslide, cold wave, and avalanche. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Summers County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Summers County has received 24 federal disaster declarations since 1967, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (9 declarations).
Has Summers County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Summers 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 1967.
How does Summers County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Greenbrier County, WV has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Giles County, VA has the lowest (Very Low). Summers County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Summers County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Summers 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. Summers County's composite score of 40 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 40% of US counties.