Webster County, WV
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Webster County has experienced 23 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.
Webster County's highest-rated hazards are landslide, avalanche, and cold wave, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have increased 38% 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. Webster County has been designated in 23 declarations since 1980, covering 7 disaster types including severe storm (10), flood (4), hurricane (3).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 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 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| 2013 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2013 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2012 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Straight-Line Winds |
| 2012 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms |
Showing the 10 most recent of 23 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 | 2.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 60.5 | 26 | 0 | $9.0M |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 24.3 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Very Low | 4.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 31.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Very Low | 14.9 | 5 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | 14 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 30.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | 29.2 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 61.8 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 44.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | No Rating | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Moderate | 89.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Relatively Low | 72.7 | — | — | — |
| 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
Webster County ranks in the 49th 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 | 49th | Low |
| Socioeconomic status | 71st | Moderate |
| Household characteristics | 33rd | Low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 15th | Very low |
| Housing type & transportation | 43rd | 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 | 41st | Relatively Moderate |
| Risk to homes | 41st | Relatively Moderate |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 89.4% | — |
NOAA tracked 31 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 13 in 2016–20 vs 18 in 2021–25 (+38% — 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 Webster County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Webster County, West Virginia are landslide, avalanche, and cold wave. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Webster County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Webster County has received 23 federal disaster declarations since 1980, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (10 declarations).
Has Webster County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Webster County include Severe Winter Storm (2026). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1980.
How does Webster County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Nicholas County, WV has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Clay County, WV has the lowest (Very Low). Webster County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Webster County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Webster 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. Webster County's composite score of 35 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 35% of US counties.