Natural hazards · Rupert

Rupert, WV natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Rupert comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is very high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 15 claims here since 1996. 6 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Rupert?

Very high

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Rupert to be higher than in 90% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and cold waves.

Inland flooding71%Cold waves17%Landslides8%Everything else4%

By hazard

What Rupert faces

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

Inland flooding

71% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 98% of U.S. places

Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Cold waves

17% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 98% of U.S. places

Recorded about 6 times a year in the area

Landslides

8% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 90% of U.S. places

Lower here

HurricanesTornadoesHailIce stormsWinter weatherWildfireEarthquakesStrong windLightningDroughtAvalanches

Not a risk here

Coastal floodingHeat wavesTsunamisVolcanic 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 Rupert flood?

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

15paid claims since 1996

$496Kpaid to owners

2homes flooded more than once

19962026

Biggest named events

Summer severe storms: 4 claims, $214K
Heavy rains: 3 claims, $71K

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

Insurance rates: Greenbrier County.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

17flood-prone properties bought out and cleared

Disasters that hit Rupert

6 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into RupertDeclared for Greenbrier County only

2016

Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides

187 households applied for aid $1.6M aid approved $51K to the Town of Rupert for repairs

2012

Severe Storms and Straight-Line Winds

23 households applied for aid $10K aid approved

2010

Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Landslides

8 households applied for aid $7K aid approved

2009

Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm

$1K to the Town of Rupert for repairs

2003

Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides

110 households applied for aid $724K aid approved

2003

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

1 household applied for aid $2K aid approved

Greenbrier County has had 22 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. Rupert 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 Rupert’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the Town of Rupert. 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.