Natural hazards · Morgantown

Morgantown, WV natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Morgantown comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is moderate for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 137 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 Morgantown?

Moderate

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Morgantown to be higher than in 56% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding.

Inland flooding84%Everything else16%

By hazard

What Morgantown faces

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

Inland flooding

84% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 80% 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 Morgantown flood?

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

137paid claims since 1978

$1.6Mpaid to owners

20homes flooded more than once

19782026

Homes that flooded again and again

■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (4) ■ flooded 2+ times

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

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

Insurance rates: Monongalia County.

Disasters that hit Morgantown

4 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into MorgantownDeclared for Monongalia County only

2017

Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides

1 household applied for aid

2003

Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides

350 households applied for aid $823K aid approved $9K to the City of Morgantown for repairs

2003

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

$24K to the City of Morgantown for repairs

2000

Flooding, Severe Storms, and Landslides

$44K to the City of Morgantown for repairs

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

Around Morgantown

Morgantown and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Westovermostly inland floodingHigh

Granvillemostly inland floodingHigh

Morgantownmostly inland floodingModerate

Star Citymostly inland floodingLow

Brookhavenmostly inland floodingLow

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. Morgantown covers 11 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Morgantown’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Morgantown. 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 Morgantown total about $11.9M 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.