Natural hazards · Weirton

Weirton, WV natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Weirton comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 143 claims here since 1979. 2 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Weirton?

High

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Weirton to be higher than in 67% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding.

Inland flooding89%Everything else11%

By hazard

What Weirton faces

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

Inland flooding

89% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 87% 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 Weirton flood?

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

143paid claims since 1979

$2.1Mpaid to owners

16homes flooded more than once

19792026

Biggest named events

Tropical Storm Ivan: 43 claims, $1.3M
Not a named storm: 2 claims, $3K

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

Insurance rates: Hancock County.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

21flood-prone properties bought out and cleared

Disasters that hit Weirton

2 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into WeirtonDeclared for Hancock County only

2024

Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides

14 households applied for aid $55K aid approved

2004

Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides

338 households applied for aid $1.3M aid approved $316K to the City of Weirton for repairs

Hancock County has had 16 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often severe storms and winter storms.

Around Weirton

Weirton and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Torontomostly inland floodingVery high

Weirtonmostly inland floodingHigh

Colliersmostly inland floodingHigh

Island Creekmostly inland floodingModerate

Pottery Additionmostly inland floodingVery low

Hanovermostly inland floodingVery low

Steubenvillemostly inland floodingVery low

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. Weirton covers 5 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Weirton’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Weirton. 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 Weirton total about $7.6M 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.