Hazard Plain Automated baseline

Clay County, WV

Risk-assessment baseline packet

County FIPS:
54015
Release:
2026-10
Data as of:
2026-09-30
Storm Events data through:
2026-06-30

Hazard Plain is an independent product built from public federal data. It is not a FEMA document and is not reviewed or endorsed by FEMA or any state agency.

Hazard Plain release 2026-10, as of 2026-09-30.

Summary

Plan status as of 2026-09-30: Approved, expires 2027-10-19. Plan: RPDC 03 Hazard Mitigation Plan (FEMA plan 108578), approved 2022-10-20.

Since the plan was approved on 2022-10-20: 2 new hazard declarations (2 incidents): DR-4756-WV (Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides), EM-3639-WV (Severe Winter Storm).

NOAA Storm Events records since that date: 72 records (data through 2026-06-30).

Highest expected annual loss (FEMA National Risk Index, modeled total; see B1-a): Inland Flooding ($4,360,694 a year), Lightning ($66,371) and Landslide ($48,872).

Repetitive-loss flood properties now: FMA RL 0, SRL 0 (44 CFR 77.2); any definition: 5.

The tables that follow are organized by the items of FEMA's Local Mitigation Plan Review Tool, Element B (B1-a to B2-c); each heading says which item its tables support.

Plan clock

Status:
Approved, expires 2027-10-19
Plan:
RPDC 03 Hazard Mitigation Plan (FEMA plan 108578)
Approved:
2022-10-20
Days to expiry:
384

What changed since your last plan (approved 2022-10-20)

New federal declarations:
2 new hazard declarations (2 incidents): DR-4756-WV (Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides), EM-3639-WV (Severe Winter Storm)
Storm Events records since approval:
72 records (data through 2026-06-30)
Repetitive loss now:
FMA RL 0, SRL 0 (44 CFR 77.2); any definition: 5
Repeat-flood change:
this release sets the baseline count.

Sources: 1, 2, 4, 6 (numbered list at the end)

Plan status for every jurisdiction listed in this county

Source: 1

JurisdictionTypeStatusPlanApprovedExpiresDays to expirynegative = days since expiry
Clay CountyCountyApproved, expires 2027-10-19RPDC 03 Hazard Mitigation Plan (FEMA plan 108578)2022-10-202027-10-19384
Clay townTownApproved, expires 2027-10-19RPDC 03 Hazard Mitigation Plan (FEMA plan 108578)2022-10-202027-10-19384

Plan 108578 covers 26 other participants, named in the Excel file.

State plan status and tribal plans in this state: see the state page.

Supports FEMA checklist item B1-a: hazard identification

Hazards NRI does not cover (local data needed)

  • dam failure (incl. upstream dams)
  • levee failure
  • flash flood as its own subtype
  • ice jams
  • debris flows
  • erosion (riverine and coastal)
  • land subsidence and sinkholes
  • expansive soils

The 18 National Risk Index hazards, ranked by expected annual loss (EAL)

Sources: 5, 6

Rank by EALHazardNRI risk ratingEAL ratingEAL buildingsmodeled dollars per yearEAL agriculturemodeled dollars per yearCost of expected deaths and injuriesFEMA's dollar value per year, not property damageEAL total (see note)modeled dollars per yearStorm Events records, 1996 to 2026-06-30countStorm Events coverage note
1Inland FloodingRelatively LowRelatively Low$4,321,012$209$39,474$4,360,69451
2LightningRelatively LowVery Low$2,141n/a$64,230$66,3710No recorded events in Storm Events since 1996 (data through 2026-06-30).
3LandslideRelatively ModerateRelatively Low$1,884n/a$46,988$48,8720Declared 11 times; no Storm Events record of this type.
4Heat WaveVery LowVery Low$8under $1$45,243$45,25220
5Strong WindVery LowVery Low$26,344$9$17,672$44,025110Includes 10 High Wind and 16 Strong Wind records (NOAA non-thunderstorm wind types, outside NRI's Strong Wind definition).
6EarthquakeVery LowVery Low$20,162n/a$8,356$28,517Storm Events does not record earthquakes.
7HailVery LowVery Low$15,080$58$5,700$20,83924
8Cold WaveVery LowVery Low$5,859$80$13,246$19,18530Includes 3 Frost/Freeze records (outside NRI's Cold Wave definition; counted in this table and in B1-d, not in the B1-e descriptor).
9TornadoVery LowVery Low$8,281$5$6,956$15,2420Declared 1 time; no Storm Events record of this type.
10Winter WeatherVery LowVery Low$6,467under $1$4,073$10,54071
11WildfireVery LowVery Low$4,992$1$2,610$7,6021
12HurricaneVery LowVery Low$7,064$122$399$7,5840Declared 1 time; no Storm Events record of this type.
13DroughtVery LowVery Lown/a$4,658n/a$4,65820
14Ice StormVery LowVery Low$3,433n/a$777$4,2111
15AvalancheRelatively LowVery Lowunder $1n/a$2,046$2,0460No recorded events in Storm Events since 1996 (data through 2026-06-30).

Total = buildings + agriculture + population equivalence; FEMA values each expected death (or 10 injuries) at $13.7 million (2024 dollars).

NRI risk rating combines expected annual loss with social vulnerability and community resilience; EAL rating rates expected annual loss alone. Both compare this county with all U.S. counties.

Local data needed: state and local lightning and landslide records (Storm Events records these hazards only in part).

Not applicable to this county per NRI, with no federal declaration and no Storm Events record since 1996: coastal flooding, tsunami and volcanic activity. That is the evidence for leaving them out of the plan.

The state hazard mitigation plan also lists hazards for this county; FEMA asks the plan to explain any hazard it leaves out.

Supports FEMA checklist item B1-b: hazard location

Affects the whole county (national data give no location within it): Cold Wave, Drought, Hail, Heat Wave, Ice Storm, Lightning, Strong Wind and Winter Weather.

Inland Flooding: The FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) is the required location source for flooding. See the FEMA Flood Map Service Center (https://msc.fema.gov) for this county.

Hazards that vary within the county: highest-rated census tracts

Source: 5

HazardHighest-rated census tractsNRI risk rating, score 0 to 100
Avalanchetract 9581 (Very Low, 59.0); tract 9580 (Very Low, 58.0); tract 9579 (Very Low, 56.9)
Earthquaketract 9580 (Relatively Low, 43.2); tract 9581 (Very Low, 30.5); tract 9579 (Very Low, 26.7)
Hurricanetract 9580 (Very Low, 47.6); tract 9579 (Very Low, 45.8); tract 9581 (Very Low, 39.1)
Landslidetract 9580 (Relatively Moderate, 99.0); tract 9579 (Relatively Moderate, 98.9); tract 9581 (Relatively Moderate, 98.3)
Tornadotract 9580 (Very Low, 22.0); tract 9579 (Very Low, 19.6); tract 9581 (Very Low, 12.0)
Wildfiretract 9581 (Relatively Low, 80.6); tract 9580 (Relatively Low, 78.2); tract 9579 (Relatively Low, 71.6)

Up to 3 census tracts per hazard, highest National Risk Index rating first, then highest score; a tract number is the Census tract number (for example 9581 is Census Tract 9581). FEMA's Resilience Analysis and Planning Tool maps the National Risk Index for every tract: https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/practitioners/resilience-analysis-and-planning-tool

Supports FEMA checklist item B1-c: hazard extent

Extent: scale, observed range and worst recorded event per hazard

Sources: 6, 7

HazardScaleRecordscount and yearsObserved rangeWorst recorded eventMost damaging (when different)How it applies to jurisdictionsNote
Avalanchenone (count and damage only)0Physical measure: in event narratives only (local data needed).
Cold/Wind Chill, Extreme Cold/Wind Chillwind chill27 records, 1996 to 2026 (27 zone-level)1 day to 31 days (median 4 days); 23 with a recorded valueMarch 2001 (1 monthly summary record), zone-levelExtreme Cold/Wind Chill, 2022-12-23, $25,000 property; $0 crops, reported for the zone (2022 dollars)Countywide (zone-level records).Wind chill: in event narratives only (local data needed). Cold/Wind Chill records from May to September (a frost night, not a cold wave) are counted but not used for the longest run.
Frost/Freeze (outside NRI's Cold Wave definition)crop damage3 records, 2003 to 2004 (3 zone-level)No crop damage reported in 3 records.Countywide (zone-level records).Temperature: in event narratives only (local data needed).
DroughtU.S. Drought Monitor scale (D0 to D4)20 records, 1997 to 2026 (20 zone-level)25 days to 184 days (median 91 days); 7 with a recorded value184 days (6 months), 1999-05-01 to 1999-10-31, a run of 6 consecutive Storm Events drought records, zone-levelCountywide (zone-level records).Storm Events enters a drought at D2 or worse east of the Rockies and D3 or worse from the Rockies west (NWS Instruction 10-1605); NRI drought counts D3 and D4 only.
EarthquakeModified Mercalli (local data)0Storm Events does not record earthquakes; the USGS earthquake catalog is the source.
Hailhail size (inches)30 records, 1989 to 20260.75 in to 1.75 in (median 0.94 in); 30 with a recorded value1.75 in hail, 2025-04-14; same size also recorded on 2008-06-22, 2010-05-14, 2011-09-03Hail, 2008-06-22, $5,000 property; $0 crops (2008 dollars)Event records naming jurisdictions in the plan: Clay town (5 records).
Excessive Heat, Heatheat index (in event narratives)20 records, 1996 to 2011 (20 zone-level)1 day to 4 days (median 2 days); 5 with a recorded value4 consecutive days, 2011-07-20 to 2011-07-23, zone-levelCountywide (zone-level records).Heat index: in event narratives only (local data needed). Heat records from November to March (unseasonable warmth, not a heat wave) are counted but not used for the longest run.
Hurricane, Tropical Storm, Tropical DepressionSaffir-Simpson0Storm Events files every zone of a storm's episode under the storm's type; flooding from the storm is filed as Flood or Flash Flood records.
Ice StormSperry-Piltz ice scale (local data)1 record, 1999 (1 zone-level)No damage reported in 1 record.Countywide (zone-level records).Ice thickness: in event narratives only (local data needed).
Flash Flood, Flood, Lakeshore Flooddamage and flood days (flood depth: FIRM)51 records, 1996 to 2025 (6 zone-level)Flood, 2016-06-23, $9,000,000 property; $0 crops (2016 dollars)Event records naming jurisdictions in the plan: Clay town (2 records). Zone-level records (6) apply countywide.Flood depth: see the FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map. Storm Events damage is often $0 or blank for floods, major ones included; FEMA Public Assistance by declaration (B1-d) shows which floods cost the most.
Debris Flownone (count and damage only)0Physical measure: in event narratives only (local data needed).
Lightningannualized frequency (the measure FEMA's Local Mitigation Planning Handbook names)0Storm Events lists lightning with damage or casualties; physical measure in event narratives only (local data needed).
High Wind and Strong Wind (outside NRI's Strong Wind definition)wind speed (kt and mph)26 records, 1999 to 2026 (26 zone-level)35 kt (40 mph) to 50 kt (58 mph) (median 40 kt (46 mph)); 16 with a recorded value50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust, High Wind, 2023-04-01; NWS zone WVZ027Strong Wind, 2019-02-24, $50,000 property; $0 crops, reported for the zone (2019 dollars)Countywide (zone-level records).
Thunderstorm Windwind speed (kt and mph)90 records, 1980 to 202645 kt (52 mph) to 61 kt (70 mph) (median 50 kt (58 mph)); 69 with a recorded value61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust, Thunderstorm Wind, 2024-04-02Thunderstorm Wind, 2012-06-29, $1,000,000 property; $0 crops (2012 dollars)Event records naming jurisdictions in the plan: Clay town (20 records).
TornadoEnhanced Fujita (Fujita before Feb 2007)0Before 1996 a tornado is listed once, under the county where it began, with its whole path's rating and length; from 1996 on, each county lists its own segment. Length is not used to rank tornadoes (see Methods).
Wildfireacres burned (local data)1 record, 1999No damage reported in 1 record.No event record names a jurisdiction in the plan.Acres burned: in event narratives only (local data needed).
Winter Storm, Heavy Snow, Blizzard, Lake-Effect Snow, Winter Weather, Sleetnone in data (snowfall: local data)71 records, 1996 to 2026 (71 zone-level)Heavy Snow, 2012-10-29, $750,000 property; $0 crops (2012 dollars); NWS zone WVZ027Countywide (zone-level records).Snow depth: in event narratives only (local data needed).

Storm Events records are more complete after 1996; before 1996 only Tornado (from 1950), Hail and Thunderstorm Wind (from 1955) exist. Zone-level records whose zone no NWS zone-county file places in this county (mostly before 2020) are not counted here (the Methods page explains the zone matching).

Dollars are nominal (as reported), labeled with the year; not adjusted for inflation.

A monthly summary record covers most or all of a month; it does not count days at wave conditions.

Supports FEMA checklist item B1-d: previous occurrences

Federal declarations for this county: 26 declarations covering 20 separate hazard incidents counted in this packet (declarations for the same incident count once; non-natural and evacuation-only declarations are not counted).

Federal disaster declarations for this county

Sources: 1, 2, 3

DeclaredIncident beganFEMA numberTypeTitleMapped hazardCounty Public Assistancefederal share obligated, nominal dollarsFlagsNotes
2026-01-242026-01-23EM-3639-WVEmergencySevere Winter StormWinter Weatherno Public Assistance recordednew since last plan; within last 5 years
2024-01-302023-08-28DR-4756-WVMajor disasterSevere Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesInland Flooding (primary); also designated: LandslidePA not declared for this countynew since last plan; within last 5 years
2020-04-032020-01-20DR-4517-WVMajor disasterCOVID-19 PandemicNon-natural, not countedno Public Assistance recorded
2020-03-132020-01-20EM-3450-WVEmergencyCOVID-19Non-natural, not countedno Public Assistance recordedsame incident as DR-4517
2016-06-252016-06-22DR-4273-WVMajor disasterSevere Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesInland Flooding (primary); also designated: Landslide$16,487,337.37
2015-08-072015-07-10DR-4236-WVMajor disasterSevere Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesInland Flooding; Landslide; Strong Windno Public Assistance recorded
2014-01-102014-01-09EM-3366-WVEmergencyChemical SpillNon-natural, not countedno Public Assistance recorded
2012-11-272012-10-29DR-4093-WVMajor disasterHurricane SandyHurricane$13,327.24
2012-10-292012-10-29EM-3358-WVEmergencyHurricane SandyHurricaneno Public Assistance recordedsame incident as DR-4093
2012-07-232012-06-29DR-4071-WVMajor disasterSevere Storms and Straight-Line WindsStrong Wind$126,839.48
2012-06-302012-06-29EM-3345-WVEmergencySevere StormsHazard not mapped (severe storm title names no single hazard); not countedno Public Assistance recordedsame incident as DR-4071
2010-03-022009-12-18DR-1881-WVMajor disasterSevere Winter Storm and SnowstormWinter Weather$21,979.91
2008-06-192008-06-03DR-1769-WVMajor disasterSevere Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Mudslides, andInland Flooding; Landslide; Tornado$9,062.32
2005-09-052005-08-29EM-3221-WVEmergencyHurricane Katrina EvacuationHurricane: evacuation support, not a local hazard event; not countedno Public Assistance recorded
2004-09-202004-09-16DR-1558-WVMajor disasterSevere Storms, Flooding, and LandslidesInland Flooding; Landslideno Public Assistance recorded
2004-06-072004-05-27DR-1522-WVMajor disasterSevere Storms, Flooding, and LandslidesInland Flooding; LandslidePA not declared for this county
2003-11-212003-11-11DR-1500-WVMajor disasterSevere Storms, Flooding, and LandslidesInland Flooding; Landslide$322,343.12
2003-03-142003-02-16DR-1455-WVMajor disasterSevere Winter Storm, Record/Near Record Snow, Heavy Rains, Flooding and LandslidesInland Flooding; Landslide; Winter Weatherno Public Assistance recorded
2001-11-162001-11-16FM-2391-WVFire managementWv - Southeast Fire Complex - 11/16/2001Wildfireno Public Assistance recorded
2001-06-032001-05-15DR-1378-WVMajor disasterSevere Storms, Flooding and LandslidesInland Flooding; Landslide$960.54
1998-07-011998-06-26DR-1229-WVMajor disasterSevere Storms and FloodingInland Flooding; Winter Weatherno Public Assistance recorded
1997-03-071997-02-28DR-1168-WVMajor disasterHeavy & Wind Driven Rain, High Winds,Flooding,SlidesInland Flooding (primary); also designated: Landslideno Public Assistance recorded
1996-08-141996-07-18DR-1132-WVMajor disasterHeavy Rains, High Winds, Flooding, and SlidesWildfire (primary); also designated: Landslideno Public Assistance recorded
1996-01-131996-01-06DR-1084-WVMajor disasterBlizzard of 96 (Severe Snow Storm)Winter Weatherno Public Assistance recorded
1993-03-171993-03-13EM-3109-WVEmergencySevere Snowfall & Winter StormWinter Weatherno Public Assistance recorded
1967-03-131967-03-13DR-224-WVMajor disasterFloodingInland Floodingno Public Assistance recorded

County Public Assistance: applicants the FEMA record places in this county, including any state agencies FEMA files there; statewide rows are listed on the state page; federal share obligated, nominal dollars.

Statewide declarations

Source: 2

DeclaredIncident beganFEMA numberTypeTitleMapped hazard
1964-03-201964-03-20DR-165-WVMajor disasterSevere Storms & FloodingInland Flooding
1963-03-131963-03-13DR-147-WVMajor disasterSevere Storms & FloodingInland Flooding
1962-03-091962-03-09DR-125-WVMajor disasterSevere Storm, High Tides & FloodingInland Flooding (primary); also designated: Coastal Flooding
1961-07-231961-07-23DR-117-WVMajor disasterFloodsInland Flooding
1957-01-311957-01-31DR-67-WVMajor disasterFloodInland Flooding
1954-08-041954-08-04DR-21-WVMajor disasterFloodInland Flooding

FEMA recorded these with designated area Statewide and no county, so they are listed on every county page in the state and not counted with county rows. Local data needed: whether each one affected this county.

Previous occurrences by hazard, with explicit no-event rows

Sources: 2, 6, 7

HazardStorm Events records, all years on file(years in the Period column)Since plan approvalrecordsIn the 12 months before plan approvalrecordsLast 5 yearsrecordsDeclared incidents, all yearsseparate disastersDeclared since approvalseparate disastersPeriodStatement
Avalanche0000001996 to 2026-06-30No recorded events, 1996 to 2026-06-30, NOAA NCEI Storm Events
Cold Wave30303001996 to 2026-06-30Includes 3 Frost/Freeze records.
Drought2010010001996 to 2026-06-30
Earthquake000000Storm Events does not record earthquakes; the USGS earthquake catalog is the source.
Hail30314001955 to 2026-06-30
Heat Wave20000001996 to 2026-06-30
Hurricane0000101996 to 2026-06-30No Storm Events records of this type; 1 federal declared incident (see declarations table)
Ice Storm1000001996 to 2026-06-30
Inland Flooding5165111211996 to 2026-06-30
Landslide00001111996 to 2026-06-30No Storm Events records of this type; 11 federal declared incidents (see declarations table)
Lightning0000001996 to 2026-06-30No recorded events, 1996 to 2026-06-30, NOAA NCEI Storm Events
Strong Wind11631738201955 to 2026-06-30Includes 10 High Wind and 16 Strong Wind records.
Tornado0000101950 to 2026-06-30No Storm Events records of this type; 1 federal declared incident (see declarations table)
Wildfire1000201996 to 2026-06-30
Winter Weather7119423611996 to 2026-06-30

Notable Storm Events records

Sources: 1, 6, 7

DateEvent typeMagnitude or extentDamagenominal dollarsDeaths, injuriesdirect onlyLocationFlagsWhy listed
2025-04-14Hail1.75 in$0 property; $0 crops (2025 dollars)0, 0LIZEMORESnew since last plan; within last 5 yearsB1-c worst recorded: Hail
2024-04-02Thunderstorm Wind61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust$10,000 property; $0 crops (2024 dollars)0, 0BICKMOREnew since last plan; within last 5 yearsB1-c worst recorded: Thunderstorm Wind
2023-04-01High Wind50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust$0 property; $0 crops, reported for the zone (2023 dollars)0, 0NWS zone WVZ027 (CLAY), zone-levelnew since last plan; within last 5 yearsB1-c worst recorded: High Wind and Strong Wind
2022-12-23Extreme Cold/Wind Chill$25,000 property; $0 crops, reported for the zone (2022 dollars)0, 0NWS zone WVZ027 (CLAY), zone-levelnew since last plan; within last 5 yearsB1-c most damaging: Cold/Wind Chill, Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
2019-02-24Strong Wind45 kt (52 mph) estimated gust$50,000 property; $0 crops, reported for the zone (2019 dollars)0, 0NWS zone WVZ027 (CLAY), zone-levelB1-c most damaging: High Wind and Strong Wind
2016-06-23Flood$9,000,000 property; $0 crops (2016 dollars)0, 0DUCKB1-c worst recorded: Flash Flood, Flood, Lakeshore Flood
2012-10-29Heavy Snow$750,000 property; $0 crops, reported for the zone (2012 dollars)0, 0NWS zone WVZ027 (CLAY), zone-levelB1-c worst recorded: Winter Storm, Heavy Snow, Blizzard, Lake-Effect Snow, Winter Weather, Sleet
2012-06-29Thunderstorm Wind56 kt (64 mph) estimated gust$1,000,000 property; $0 crops (2012 dollars)0, 0BIG OTTER to BICKMOREB1-c most damaging: Thunderstorm Wind
2011-07-20Heat$0 property; $0 crops, reported for the zone (2011 dollars)0, 0NWS zone WVZ027 (CLAY), zone-levelB1-c worst recorded: Excessive Heat, Heat
2008-06-22Hail1.75 in$5,000 property; $0 crops (2008 dollars)0, 0CLAYB1-c most damaging: Hail
2001-03-01Cold/Wind Chilldamage not reported0, 0NWS zone WVZ027 (CLAY), zone-levelB1-c worst recorded: Cold/Wind Chill, Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
1999-05-01Droughtdamage not reported0, 0NWS zone WVZ027 (CLAY), zone-levelB1-c worst recorded: Drought

The full list is in the Excel file, sheet "B1-d Storm Events history" (340 rows).

Location is the place NOAA recorded, as written in its data; it need not be a jurisdiction in this plan.

Local data needed: state-declared emergencies, from your state emergency management agency (federal data do not include them).

FEMA's declaration data list no tribal or special-area declarations for this state.

Supports FEMA checklist item B1-e: probability of future events

Probability: FEMA annualized frequency and descriptor per hazard

Sources: 5, 6

HazardFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)unit per rowUnitIn plain termsDescriptorDescriptor basisNRI events or days in its record period (hail, wind and tornado are area-weighted, so can be fractional)NRI periodLocationNote
Avalanche0.01events per yearabout 1 in 100 yearsPossibleFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)01994 to 2023 (30 years)see B1-f0.01 is NRI's minimum avalanche frequency for a county in an avalanche susceptibility zone; NRI records no avalanche here, so the descriptor reflects the floor, not local events.
Cold Wave0.79event-days per yearabout 0.79 days per yearLikely (from Storm Events: 11 of 30 years)event-days in 11 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (36.7%)152005-11-12 to 2024-11-12 (19 years)countywide
Drought4.32event-days per yearabout 4.32 days per yearLikely (from Storm Events: 6 of 30 years)event-days in 6 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (20%)1682000 to 2025 (25.25 years; D3 and D4 only)countywide
Earthquake0.000842annual probability at a locationchance a given location in the county has at least minor-damage shaking in a year: 0.0842%not shownmodeledsee B1-fNo descriptor (Storm Events does not record earthquakes).
Hail2.3events per yearabout 2.3 per yearHighly likelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)87.3 (modeled)1986 to 2023 (38 years)countywide
Heat Wave2.42event-days per yearabout 2.42 days per yearLikely (from Storm Events: 9 of 30 years)event-days in 9 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (30%)412005-11-12 to 2024-11-12 (19 years)countywide
Hurricane0.0107events per yearabout 1 in 93 yearsPossibleFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)01851 to 2024 (Atlantic)see B1-fNRI counts hurricane and tropical storm tracks passing within storm-force wind range; federal declarations are in B1-d.
Ice Storm0.0733event-days per yearabout 0.0733 days per yearPossible (from Storm Events: 1 of 30 years)event-days in 1 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (3.33%)51946-12-31 to 2014-02-12 (67 years)countywide
Inland Flooding1.54event-days per yearabout 1.54 days per yearLikely (from Storm Events: 22 of 30 years)event-days in 22 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (73.3%)431996 to 2023 (28 years)see B1-f
Landslide0.977events per year (modeled)about 0.98 per yearLikelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)not shownmodeledsee B1-f
Lightning47.6days per year with a strikeabout 47.6 days per yearHighly likelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)not shown1995 to 2023 (29 years; CONUS)countywide
Strong Wind0.741events per yearabout 0.74 per yearLikelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)291986 to 2023 (38 years)countywide
Tornado0.0254events per yearabout 1 in 39 yearsPossibleFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)not shown1950 to 2023 (EF2+); 1986 to 2023 (EF0-1)see B1-f
Wildfire0.00195annual probability at a locationchance a given location in the county burns in a year: 0.195%Possible (from Storm Events: 1 of 30 years)Storm Events records in 1 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (3.33%)not shownmodeledsee B1-fDescriptor from Storm Events, not NRI.
Winter Weather9.37event-days per yearabout 9.37 days per yearLikely (from Storm Events: 24 of 30 years)event-days in 24 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (80%)1782005-11-12 to 2024-11-12 (19 years)countywide

FEMA annualized frequency (modeled) is the National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025) estimate of how often a hazard affects this county in a year; it is not recorded events divided by years, and its unit differs by hazard (events, event-days, or days with a lightning strike per year). For earthquake, wildfire, coastal flooding and tsunami the value is the chance (or number of events) at a location in the county, not across the county, so no "1 in N years" is given and the descriptor comes from Storm Events where it has a record (none for earthquake). The Methods page gives each hazard's method, from FEMA's National Risk Index Technical Documentation v1.20.

Where NRI gives event-days, the descriptor comes from the share of years with a Storm Events record; NRI's source records more events, so the two differ.

Descriptor scale used in this packet (defined per unit)

Sources: 5, 6

UnitDescriptorDefinition
events per yearHighly likely1 or more per year
events per yearLikelyabout once in 1 to 10 years
events per yearPossibleabout once in 10 to 100 years
events per yearUnlikelyless than once in 100 years
annual probabilityLikely10% to under 100% chance in a given year
annual probabilityPossible1% to under 10% chance in a given year
annual probabilityUnlikelyunder 1% chance in a given year
event-days (share of years)Highly likelyevent-days recorded in 90% or more of years
event-days (share of years)Likelyevent-days recorded in 10% to under 90% of years
event-days (share of years)Possibleevent-days recorded in some years but under 10% of years
lightning strike-daysHighly likelycloud-to-ground strikes on 1 or more days per year

Intensity bands: historical frequency (Storm Events)

Source: 6

HazardBandYearsEventscounty-coded recordsYears in periodEvents per yearevents / years
Hail1.00-1.99 in1996 to 202512300.4
Hail2.00 in+1996 to 20250300
Thunderstorm Wind (counted as NRI Strong Wind)50-64 kt1996 to 202564302.13
Thunderstorm Wind (counted as NRI Strong Wind)65 kt+1996 to 20250300
Thunderstorm Wind (counted as NRI Strong Wind)unmeasured or below 50 kt1996 to 202518300.6
TornadoEF0-11996 to 20250300
TornadoEF2-31996 to 20250300
TornadoEF4-51996 to 20250300
Tornadounrated (EFU)1996 to 20250300

The bands show how often events of each severity were recorded in this county, to profile how severe events have been (FEMA's probability item asks for the range of intensities).

Hail smaller than 1 inch is not counted: on 2010-01-05 the National Weather Service raised its severe-hail threshold from 3/4 inch to 1 inch, so smaller reports became less common after 2009 (NWS Service Change Notice 09-52). NRI hail frequency uses a 0.75 inch threshold.

Optional: future conditions. Not a required item in the 2025 FEMA Local Mitigation Planning Policy Guide; some states ask for it. The federal Climate Mapping for Resilience and Adaptation (CMRA) site gives county exposure to future climate conditions (https://resilience.climate.gov/).

Supports FEMA checklist item B1-f: hazards that vary across jurisdictions

Range of census tract risk within the county

Source: 5

HazardTractsrated of allNRI risk score, 0 to 100Tracts by rating
MinMedianMax
Avalanche3 of 356.958.059.0Very Low 3
Cold Wave3 of 322.624.224.6Relatively Low 3
Drought1 of 386.186.186.1Relatively Low 1, No Rating 2
Earthquake3 of 326.730.543.2Relatively Low 1, Very Low 2
Hail3 of 353.956.959.8Relatively Low 3
Heat Wave3 of 326.334.835.2Relatively Low 3
Hurricane3 of 339.145.847.6Very Low 3
Ice Storm3 of 38.429.942.6Relatively Low 1, Very Low 2
Inland Flooding3 of 390.692.698.4Very High 1, Relatively High 2
Landslide3 of 398.398.999.0Relatively Moderate 3
Lightning3 of 377.084.785.3Relatively High 2, Relatively Moderate 1
Strong Wind3 of 354.857.260.7Relatively Moderate 3
Tornado3 of 312.019.622.0Very Low 3
Wildfire3 of 371.678.280.6Relatively Low 3
Winter Weather3 of 361.968.070.4Relatively Moderate 3

Drought: Agriculture is all of NRI's expected annual loss for this hazard in the county, so the tract range mostly reflects where crop and livestock value is.

Rated tracts only: No Rating (score 0.0), Not Applicable and Insufficient Data tracts are counted but not used for the minimum, median and maximum.

The score ranks a tract against all U.S. tracts (100 = highest). The rating is FEMA's category for the tract's risk value, computed differently, so the two can disagree.

Frequency data for cold wave, drought, hail, heat wave, ice storm, lightning, strong wind and winter weather are county-wide or coarse (49 km grid or NWS zone), the same for every jurisdiction; the tract range mostly reflects where buildings and people are (crop and livestock value where a line above names agriculture).

This county has 3 census tracts; the minimum, median and maximum come from those 3.

Each jurisdiction (starting figures from federal data)

Sources: 1, 3, 4, 6

JurisdictionTypePlan statusRepetitive lossFMA RL and SRL (44 CFR 77.2); repeat-flood, any definitionPublic Assistance to this jurisdictionFEMA records matched by applicant name; federal share obligated, nominal dollarsEvent records naming this placeall years; since its plan
Clay CountyCountyApproved, expires 2027-10-19FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 5$2,032,886.230 total; 0 since its plan
Clay townTownApproved, expires 2027-10-19FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0$365,593.7327 total; 2 since its plan

Repetitive-loss counts are for whole NFIP communities, which can extend beyond this county (see the note in B2-c).

County Public Assistance in B1-d also includes applicants filed under the county that are not jurisdictions in this plan (for example state agencies, special districts and nonprofits), so the jurisdiction rows add up to less.

Supports FEMA checklist items B2-a and B2-b: vulnerability and potential impacts

Local data needed

The table below gives county-level starting figures; the plan describes impacts for each jurisdiction and its own assets.

  • Critical facilities and lifelines per hazard
  • A problem statement per jurisdiction per hazard
  • Changes in development in hazard-prone areas since the last approval, or a statement of none (E1-a)
  • Future assets

County-level starter: exposure, expected annual loss and damage since the plan

Sources: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7

HazardBuilding exposuremodeled dollarsAgriculture exposuremodeled dollarsPopulation exposedpeopleEAL buildingsmodeled dollars per yearEAL agriculturemodeled dollars per yearCost of expected deaths and injuriesFEMA's dollar value per year, not property damageEAL as % of exposurebuildings; agriculture where notedStorm Events damage since 2022-10-20county-coded records, property plus crops, nominal dollarsZone-level damage since planproperty plus crops, reported for the zonePublic Assistance since plannominal dollars; see noteNote
Avalanche$568,894n/aunder 1under $1n/a$2,046under 0.0001%
Cold Wave$1,486,869,308$738,4228,050$5,859$80$13,2460.000394%$25,000
Droughtn/a$177,489n/an/a$4,658n/a2.62% (agriculture)$0NRI has no building exposure for this hazard; agriculture shown
Earthquake$2,540,750,018n/a8,051$20,162n/a$8,3560.000794%
Hail$1,486,869,308$738,4228,050$15,080$58$5,7000.00101%$0
Heat Wave$1,486,869,308$738,4228,050$8under $1$45,243under 0.0001%
Hurricane$1,486,869,308$738,4228,050$7,064$122$3990.000475%
Ice Storm$1,486,869,308n/a8,050$3,433n/a$7770.000231%
Inland Flooding$1,480,267,822$21,8431,170$4,321,012$209$39,474n/a (see note)$2,000no Public Assistance recorded (1 declaration)NRI counts the full building value of any census block with some flood loss; this is not the value of buildings in the floodplain. Use local FIRM overlays for B2-a/B2-b.
Landslide$636,569,788n/a3,635$1,884n/a$46,9880.000296%no Public Assistance recorded (1 declaration)
Lightning$1,486,869,308n/a8,050$2,141n/a$64,2300.000144%
Strong Wind$1,486,869,308$738,4228,050$26,344$9$17,6720.00177%$45,250$11,000Storm Events damage since the plan includes 5 zone-level Strong Wind records ($11,000): a NOAA non-thunderstorm wind type, outside NRI's Strong Wind definition.
Tornado$1,486,869,308$738,4228,050$8,281$5$6,9560.000557%
Wildfire$20,514,904$56,814669$4,992$1$2,6100.0243%
Winter Weather$1,486,869,308$738,4228,050$6,467under $1$4,0730.000435%$0no Public Assistance recorded (1 declaration)

Totals since 2022-10-20 (Storm Events through 2026-06-30): 34 county-coded records, 34 with a damage value recorded (including $0), $47,250; 38 zone-level records, 38 with a damage value recorded (including $0), $36,000 reported for the zone; Public Assistance: none recorded on the 2 counted declarations.

FEMA does not split Public Assistance by hazard. A declaration mapped to several hazards is listed under each of them with its full amount, so the per-hazard column does not add up to the total; the unit total counts each declaration once.

NRI computes earthquake exposure on its own basis, so it exceeds the county building value in B2-a.

Supports FEMA checklist item B2-a: vulnerability (county context)

County context

Source: 5

MeasureValue
Population8,050
Building value (total, not at risk)$1,486,869,308
Agriculture value (total, not at risk)$738,422
NRI risk rating (all hazards)Very Low
Expected annual loss, buildings and agriculture, all hazards$4,427,867
Expected annual loss, population equivalence, all hazards (NRI values each statistical life at $13.7M; a modeled value of expected deaths and injuries, not property damage)$257,771
Social vulnerability ratingVery High
Community resilience ratingVery Low
NRI versionDecember 2025

FEMA's all-hazard expected annual loss adds buildings, agriculture and population equivalence; this table gives the property part and the population-equivalence part as separate rows.

Social vulnerability: higher means people are more likely to be harmed and slower to recover. Community resilience: lower means the community is less able to recover. High social vulnerability and low resilience both raise the NRI risk rating.

Supports FEMA checklist item B2-c: repetitive loss properties

Repetitive loss in this county, both definitions

Sources: 1, 4

DefinitionPropertiesSevere repetitive lossProperties
Repetitive loss, FMA definition (44 CFR 77.2)0Severe repetitive loss, FMA definition (44 CFR 77.2)0
Repetitive loss, NFIP insurance definition5Severe repetitive loss, NFIP insurance definition0

The state NFIP coordinator's list, the source FEMA's Handbook names, often uses the NFIP insurance definition (second row).

Repeat-flood properties: county total and NFIP communities

Sources: 1, 4

ScopeRL, FMApropertiesSRL, FMApropertiesRL, NFIPpropertiesSRL, NFIPpropertiesAny categorypropertiesMitigatedpropertiesCurrently insuredproperties
County total0050501
of which: Clay County (unincorporated area)0050501

Repeat-flood properties by jurisdiction in the plan (NFIP community)

Sources: 1, 4

JurisdictionNFIP community IDRL, FMApropertiesSRL, FMApropertiesRL, NFIPpropertiesSRL, NFIPpropertiesAny categorypropertiesMitigatedpropertiesCurrently insuredproperties
Clay County5400220050501
Clay town5400230000000

Counts by occupancy group for each jurisdiction are in the Excel file, sheet "B2-c Jurisdictions".

Jurisdiction rows are whole NFIP communities and need not add up to the county total: a community that extends into another county is counted in full on each jurisdiction row, while the county table counts only its part in this county.

County repeat-flood properties by occupancy group

Sources: 1, 4

Occupancy groupRL, FMApropertiesSRL, FMApropertiesRL, NFIPpropertiesSRL, NFIPpropertiesAny categorypropertiesMitigatedpropertiesCurrently insuredproperties
single-family residential0050501
2 to 4 unit residential0000000
other residential0000000
non-residential0000000
not reported0000000

FEMA's occupancy groups have no institutional class; institutional properties are counted in non-residential or other residential in the table by occupancy group.

FMA RL and FMA SRL are the Flood Mitigation Assistance definitions (44 CFR 77.2), the ones the FEMA Local Mitigation Planning Policy Guide cites. NFIP repetitive loss (the FEMA insurance definition) is 2 or more claims over $1,000 in 10 years, and a property can leave that group once it is mitigated. Also shown: NFIP severe repetitive loss, any category, mitigated and currently insured. The Methods page gives the OpenFEMA field details.

Counts are aggregates of FEMA's public NFIP Multiple Loss Properties file (FEMA's data date 2026-08-02; file version 2026-08-04). No property is identified. County assignment is FEMA's geocode.

In this county 0 properties are FMA repetitive loss but not NFIP repetitive loss, and 5 properties are NFIP repetitive loss but not FMA repetitive loss.

Exact counts; no count suppression.

Sources

Tables cite these sources by number. The full list, for the plan's bibliography (FEMA review item A4-a):

  1. FEMA, OpenFEMA HazardMitigationPlanStatuses v1, version 2026-09-29T134039Z, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v1/HazardMitigationPlanStatuses (API)
  2. FEMA, OpenFEMA DisasterDeclarationsSummaries v2, version 2026-09-29T162832Z, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v2/DisasterDeclarationsSummaries (API)
  3. FEMA, OpenFEMA PublicAssistanceFundedProjectsSummaries v1, version 2026-09-29T150754Z, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v1/PublicAssistanceFundedProjectsSummaries (API)
  4. FEMA, OpenFEMA NfipMultipleLossProperties v1, version 2026-08-04T164045Z, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v1/NfipMultipleLossProperties (API)
  5. FEMA, FEMA National Risk Index 1.20.0 (December 2025), county and census tract tables, version 1.20.0, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.fema.gov/about/reports-and-data/openfema/nri/v120/NRI_Table_Counties.zip (download, 25 MB), https://www.fema.gov/about/reports-and-data/openfema/nri/v120/NRI_Table_CensusTracts.zip (download, 635 MB)
  6. NOAA NCEI, NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, details files (csvfiles v1.0), version c20260918, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/swdi/stormevents/csvfiles/
  7. NOAA National Weather Service, NWS county-public forecast zones correlation file, version bp03mr20 to bp16ap26 (11 files; newest bp16ap26), pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.weather.gov/gis/ZoneCounty
  8. U.S. Census Bureau, Census 2024 Gazetteer, 2020 place by county, CT county-to-cousub crosswalk, version 2024-gazetteer, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_counties_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_cousubs_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_place_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_unsd_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_elsd_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_scsd_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/reference/codes2020/national_place_by_county2020.txt, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/reference/ct_change/ct_cou_to_cousub_crosswalk.xlsx (used to match place names and codes; no table prints its values)

What this packet is and what the plan adds

This packet is the federal data for the plan's risk assessment, organized by the items of FEMA's Local Mitigation Plan Review Tool, Element B. Each section heading names the item its tables support; the plan and FEMA's review decide whether the item is met.

The plan adds what only the community has: local data on assets, critical facilities, development and each jurisdiction's impacts; local hazard history, including state-declared emergencies; the mitigation strategy; and adoption.

How the federal data are built: National Risk Index values are FEMA's model, not counts of events. Storm Events is more complete from 1996; zone-level records are placed by forecast zone, not by location in the county. Public Assistance for a jurisdiction is matched by applicant name. The Methods page gives every rule and the known edge cases.

OpenFEMA disclaimer

This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).

Reuse, citation and corrections

Reuse and citation: Hazard Plain text and tables are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/); credit Hazard Plain and the release. The underlying federal data are public domain; OpenFEMA data are also subject to the OpenFEMA terms and conditions.

Cite this: Hazard Plain (2026). Clay County, WV: risk-assessment baseline packet, release 2026-10 (data as of 2026-09-30; County FIPS 54015). Automated baseline. https://hazardplain.org/wv/54015/ Built from FEMA OpenFEMA, the FEMA National Risk Index and NOAA NCEI Storm Events; source versions in the packet's Sources list.

Corrections: to report an error, name the packet, the table and what your records show. Contact: [email protected]

Hazard Plain release 2026-10. As of 2026-09-30; Storm Events data through 2026-06-30. Automated baseline.