Natural hazards · Benwood

Benwood, WV natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Benwood comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is very high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 70 claims here since 1980. 6 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025 · OpenFEMA claims, aid & declarations

Expected damage

How exposed is Benwood?

Very high

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Benwood to be higher than in 98% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding.

Inland flooding97%Everything else4%

By hazard

What Benwood faces

Each hazard’s share of the damage FEMA expects here, and how that compares with the rest of the country.

Inland flooding

97% of expected damage

Well above average · among the top 1% of U.S. places

Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Lower here

HurricanesTornadoesHailIce stormsWinter weatherCold wavesHeat wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesStrong windLightning

Not a risk here

Coastal floodingDroughtAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.

Flood insurance claims

Does Benwood flood?

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Benwood, from FEMA’s records.

70paid claims since 1980

$1.1Mpaid to owners

14homes flooded more than once

19802026

Biggest named events

Tropical Storm Ivan: 30 claims, $713K

Homes that flooded again and again

■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (0) ■ flooded 2+ times

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

No community discount. Benwood isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Marshall County.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

1flood-prone properties bought out and cleared

Disasters that hit Benwood

6 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

Disasters the President declared that paid out in Benwood itself: aid to households, or repair grants to the City of Benwood.

Brought FEMA money into BenwoodDeclared for Marshall County only

2024

Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides

1 household applied for aid $31K to the City of Benwood for repairs

2024

Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides

6 households applied for aid $36K aid approved $71K to the City of Benwood for repairs

2017

Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides

23 households applied for aid $57K aid approved $59K to the City of Benwood for repairs

2005

Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides

$4K to the City of Benwood for repairs

2004

Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides

114 households applied for aid $196K aid approved $41K to the City of Benwood for repairs

2003

Severe Winter Storm, Record/Near Record Snow, Heavy Rains, Flooding and Landslides

$10K to the City of Benwood for repairs

Marshall County has had 22 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often severe storms and floods.

Around Benwood

Benwood and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Benwoodmostly inland floodingVery high

Wheelingmostly inland floodingVery high

McMechenmostly inland floodingVery high

Bellairemostly inland floodingVery high

Pultneymostly inland floodingHigh

About these numbers

How to read this page

An average, not a forecastFEMA’s National Risk Index estimates the damage 18 kinds of natural hazards cause in a typical year, from decades of records and models. A quiet decade can follow a bad year.

Compared by rate“Higher than N%” compares yearly damage as a share of what’s here, so a big city isn’t rated riskier just for having more buildings. Benwood covers 1 census tract, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Benwood’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Benwood. FEMA’s model follows property values, so a place that recently lost many homes can rate lower than it feels.

FEMA’s expected losses across Benwood total about $1.6M a year, counting buildings, people and crops.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025); OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Census tracts: U.S. Census Bureau.