Natural hazards · Grafton

Grafton, WV natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Grafton comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is very high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 11 claims here since 1980. 7 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Grafton?

Very high

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Grafton to be higher than in 81% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding.

Inland flooding90%Everything else10%

By hazard

What Grafton faces

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

Inland flooding

90% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 94% of U.S. places

Recorded about once a year in the area

Lower here

HurricanesTornadoesHailIce stormsWinter weatherCold wavesHeat wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesStrong windLightningAvalanches

Not a risk here

Coastal floodingDroughtTsunamisVolcanic 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 Grafton flood?

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

11paid claims since 1980

$63Kpaid to owners

1homes flooded more than once

19802026

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. Grafton isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Taylor County.

Disasters that hit Grafton

7 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into GraftonDeclared for Taylor County only

2012

Severe Storms and Straight-Line Winds

$5K to the City of Grafton for repairs

2012

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Mudslides, and Landslides

13 households applied for aid $6K aid approved

2008

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Mudslides, and

84 households applied for aid $133K aid approved $35K to the City of Grafton for repairs

2003

Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides

25 households applied for aid $54K aid approved

2003

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

$4K to the City of Grafton for repairs

2001

Severe Storms, Flooding and Landslides

$35K to the City of Grafton for repairs

2000

Flooding, Severe Storms, and Landslides

$3K to the City of Grafton for repairs

Taylor County has had 16 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often severe storms and winter 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. Grafton 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 Grafton’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Grafton. 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.