Taylor County, WV
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Taylor County has experienced 20 federally declared disasters since 1980, most recently Severe Winter Storm in 2026. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Taylor County's highest-rated hazards are landslide, inland flooding, and hurricane, with its top risk rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have decreased 67% 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. Taylor County has been designated in 20 declarations since 1980, covering 7 disaster types including severe storm (8), hurricane (3), flood (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 |
| 2013 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2013 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2012 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Mudslides, And Landslides |
| 2012 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Straight-Line Winds |
| 2012 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms |
Showing the 10 most recent of 20 total declarations since 1980.
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 | 14.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 53.5 | 15 | 0 | $318K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 21.5 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 13.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Very Low | 15.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 45.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 45 | 13 | 0 | $4.2M |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | 15.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 20.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 17.1 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 6.3 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 33 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | No Rating | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | 83.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 11.8 | — | — | — |
| 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
Taylor County ranks in the 35th 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 | 35th | Low |
| Socioeconomic status | 54th | Moderate |
| Household characteristics | 25th | Low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 3rd | Very low |
| Housing type & transportation | 40th | 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 | 33rd | Relatively Low |
| Risk to homes | 32nd | Relatively Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 76.4% | — |
NOAA tracked 28 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 21 in 2016–20 vs 7 in 2021–25 (-67% — 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 Taylor County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Taylor County, West Virginia are landslide, inland flooding, and hurricane. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Taylor County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Taylor County has received 20 federal disaster declarations since 1980, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (8 declarations).
Has Taylor County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Taylor County include Severe Winter Storm (2026). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1980.
How does Taylor 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 Tucker County, WV has the lowest (Very Low). Taylor County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Taylor County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Taylor 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. Taylor County's composite score of 24 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 24% of US counties.