Natural hazards · Ghent

Ghent, WV natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Ghent comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is high for a U.S. community. 5 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Ghent?

High

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Ghent to be higher than in 63% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding.

Inland flooding87%Everything else13%

By hazard

What Ghent faces

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

Inland flooding

87% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 84% of U.S. places

Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Lower here

HurricanesTornadoesHailIce stormsWinter weatherCold wavesHeat wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesStrong windLightningDroughtAvalanches

Not a risk here

Coastal floodingTsunamisVolcanic 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 Ghent flood?

FEMA's records show no paid flood insurance claims in Ghent.

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

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

Insurance rates: Raleigh County.

Disasters that hit Ghent

5 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into GhentDeclared for Raleigh County only

2012

Severe Storms and Straight-Line Winds

4 households applied for aid

2010

Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Landslides

12 households applied for aid $25K aid approved

2009

Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Landslides

2 households applied for aid $960 aid approved

2003

Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides

5 households applied for aid $7K aid approved

2003

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

1 household applied for aid $846 aid approved

Raleigh County has had 25 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often severe storms and floods.

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. Ghent is smaller than a census tract, so it shares the figures of the tract around its center.

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

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.

Ghent, WV natural hazards

How exposed is Ghent?

What Ghent faces

Inland flooding

Lower here

Not a risk here

Does Ghent flood?

5 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

Severe Storms and Straight-Line Winds

Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Landslides

Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Landslides

Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides

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

How to read this page

Where to, neighbor?

Matches

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