Natural hazards · McMechen

McMechen, WV natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in McMechen comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is very high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 39 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 McMechen?

Very high

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in McMechen to be higher than in 89% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding.

Inland flooding92%Everything else8%

By hazard

What McMechen faces

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

Inland flooding

92% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 98% 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 McMechen flood?

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

39paid claims since 1980

$331Kpaid to owners

2homes flooded more than once

19802026

Biggest named events

Tropical Storm Ivan: 9 claims, $65K

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. McMechen 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.

Disasters that hit McMechen

6 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into McMechenDeclared for Marshall County only

2024

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

2 households applied for aid $39K aid approved

2017

Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides

208 households applied for aid $482K aid approved $326K to the City of McMechen for repairs

2010

Severe Winter Storms and Snowstorms

$4K to the City of McMechen for repairs

2005

Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides

$7K to the City of McMechen for repairs

2004

Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides

61 households applied for aid $164K aid approved $53K to the City of McMechen for repairs

2003

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

$7K to the City of McMechen for repairs

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

Around McMechen

McMechen and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Benwoodmostly 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. McMechen 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 McMechen’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of McMechen. 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.