Natural hazards · Buckhannon

Buckhannon, WV natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Buckhannon comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 267 claims here since 1978. 4 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Buckhannon?

High

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Buckhannon to be higher than in 78% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding.

Inland flooding88%Everything else12%

By hazard

What Buckhannon faces

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

Inland flooding

88% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 93% 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 Buckhannon flood?

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

267paid claims since 1978

$2.1Mpaid to owners

43homes flooded more than once

19782026

Biggest named events

2026-07-West Virginia-Flooding: 22 claims, $284K
Not a named storm: 2 claims, $10K
Hurricane Fran: 1 claim, $2K

Homes that flooded again and again

■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (10) ■ flooded 2+ times

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

🏷️ 10% off flood insurance. Buckhannon is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8) for its flood-proofing work.

Insurance rates: Upshur County.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

34flood-prone properties bought out and cleared

19homes raised above flood level

3flood-prone homes bought out and moved

Disasters that hit Buckhannon

4 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into BuckhannonDeclared for Upshur County only

2026

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

643 households applied for aid $5.4M aid approved

2012

Hurricane Sandy

$11K to the City of Buckhannon for repairs

2012

Severe Storms and Straight-Line Winds

$15K to the City of Buckhannon for repairs

2003

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

10 households applied for aid $4K aid approved $7K to the City of Buckhannon for repairs

Upshur County has had 18 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often floods and severe storms.

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. Buckhannon covers 1 census tract, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Buckhannon’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Buckhannon. 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 Buckhannon total about $1.9M 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.