Natural hazards · War

War, WV natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in War comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is very high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 14 claims here since 1978. 11 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is War?

Very high

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in War to be higher than in 88% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and cold waves.

Inland flooding71%Cold waves23%Everything else7%

By hazard

What War 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 97% of U.S. places

Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Cold waves

23% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 77% of U.S. places

Recorded about once a year in the area

Lower here

HurricanesTornadoesHailIce stormsWinter weatherHeat 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 War flood?

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

14paid claims since 1978

$22Kpaid to owners

0homes flooded more than once

19782026

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

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

Insurance rates: McDowell County.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

4flood-prone properties bought out and cleared

Disasters that hit War

11 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into WarDeclared for McDowell County only

2025

Severe Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides

166 households applied for aid $2.0M aid approved $610K to the City of War for repairs

2022

Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides

$1.9M to the City of War for repairs

2015

Severe Winter Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides

$70K to the City of War for repairs

2012

Severe Storms and Straight-Line Winds

7 households applied for aid $2K aid approved $3K to the City of War for repairs

2010

Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Landslides

4 households applied for aid $2K aid approved

2009

Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm

$11K to the City of War for repairs

2009

Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Landslides

7 households applied for aid $9K aid approved

2004

Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides

19 households applied for aid $20K aid approved

2003

Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides

18 households applied for aid $13K aid approved

2003

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

2 households applied for aid $6K aid approved

2002

Severe Storms, Flooding and Landslides

$10K to the City of War for repairs

McDowell County has had 23 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. War 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 War’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of War. 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.

War, WV natural hazards

How exposed is War?

What War faces

Inland flooding

Cold waves

Lower here

Not a risk here

Does War flood?

What’s been done with FEMA grants

11 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

Severe Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides

Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides

Severe Winter Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides

Severe Storms and Straight-Line Winds

Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Landslides

Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm

Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Landslides

Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides

Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides

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

Severe Storms, Flooding and Landslides

How to read this page

Where to, neighbor?

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