Hazard Plain Automated baseline

Mineral County, WV

Risk-assessment baseline packet

County FIPS:
54057
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 2029-08-26. Plan: RPDC 08 Hazard Mitigation Plan (FEMA plan 110090), approved 2024-08-27.

Since the plan was approved on 2024-08-27: 1 new hazard declaration (1 incident) and 67 NOAA Storm Events records; details under "What changed since your last plan".

Highest expected annual loss (FEMA National Risk Index, modeled total; see B1-a): Inland Flooding ($13,255,085 a year), Strong Wind ($274,256) and Tornado ($179,986).

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 2029-08-26
Plan:
RPDC 08 Hazard Mitigation Plan (FEMA plan 110090)
Approved:
2024-08-27
Days to expiry:
1,061

What changed since your last plan (approved 2024-08-27)

New federal declarations:
1 new hazard declaration (1 incident): EM-3639-WV (Severe Winter Storm)
Storm Events records since approval:
67 records (data through 2026-06-30)
Repetitive loss now:
FMA RL 0, SRL 2 (44 CFR 77.2); any definition: 23
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 expiryNotes
Mineral CountyCountyApproved, expires 2029-08-26RPDC 08 Hazard Mitigation Plan (FEMA plan 110090)2024-08-272029-08-261,061this jurisdiction approved 2024-09-10
Carpendale townTownApproved, expires 2029-08-26RPDC 08 Hazard Mitigation Plan (FEMA plan 110090)2024-08-272029-08-261,061this jurisdiction approved 2024-09-03
Elk Garden townTownApproved, expires 2029-08-26RPDC 08 Hazard Mitigation Plan (FEMA plan 110090)2024-08-272029-08-261,061this jurisdiction approved 2024-09-03
Keyser cityCityApproved, expires 2029-08-26RPDC 08 Hazard Mitigation Plan (FEMA plan 110090)2024-08-272029-08-261,061this jurisdiction approved 2024-09-25
Piedmont townTownApproved, expires 2029-08-26RPDC 08 Hazard Mitigation Plan (FEMA plan 110090)2024-08-272029-08-261,061this jurisdiction approved 2024-09-04
Ridgeley townTownApproved, expires 2029-08-26RPDC 08 Hazard Mitigation Plan (FEMA plan 110090)2024-08-272029-08-261,061this jurisdiction approved 2024-10-08

Plan 110090 covers 11 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 ModerateRelatively Low$13,104,845$73,170$77,070$13,255,08554
2Strong WindRelatively LowRelatively Low$47,119$9,404$217,734$274,256141Includes 20 High Wind records (a NOAA non-thunderstorm wind type, outside NRI's Strong Wind definition).
3TornadoVery LowVery Low$103,118$426$76,443$179,9862
4HurricaneRelatively LowRelatively Low$142,137$19,568$6,860$168,5650Declared 3 times; no Storm Events record of this type.
5HailRelatively LowRelatively Low$136,240$1,819$23,957$162,01624
6Heat WaveVery LowVery Low$9$7$137,403$137,41913
7DroughtRelatively LowRelatively Lown/a$132,192n/a$132,1920Declared 2 times; no Storm Events record of this type.
8Cold WaveVery LowVery Low$14,132$85,014$17,254$116,40083Includes 42 Frost/Freeze records (outside NRI's Cold Wave definition; counted in this table and in B1-d, not in the B1-e descriptor).
9LightningRelatively LowRelatively Low$5,944n/a$89,586$95,5300No recorded events in Storm Events since 1996 (data through 2026-06-30).
10EarthquakeVery LowVery Low$62,463n/a$17,531$79,993Storm Events does not record earthquakes.
11Winter WeatherRelatively LowRelatively Low$30,399$12$18,315$48,725247
12LandslideRelatively LowRelatively Low$10,041n/a$20,461$30,5020Declared 5 times; no Storm Events record of this type.
13Ice StormVery LowVery Low$10,706n/a$4,043$14,7486
14WildfireVery LowVery Low$7,249$20$2,165$9,4350No recorded events in Storm Events since 1996 (data through 2026-06-30).
15AvalancheVery LowVery Lowunder $1n/a$1,312$1,3120No 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, landslide and wildfire 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 106 (Very Low, 53.6); tract 107 (Very Low, 52.3); tract 101 (Very Low, 52.0)
Earthquaketract 106 (Relatively Low, 43.5); tract 105 (Very Low, 33.7); tract 104 (Very Low, 32.7)
Hurricanetract 106 (Relatively Low, 65.2); tract 104 (Relatively Low, 64.3); tract 105 (Relatively Low, 62.1)
Landslidetract 104 (Relatively Moderate, 98.1); tract 103 (Relatively Moderate, 97.5); tract 102 (Relatively Moderate, 96.1)
Tornadotract 106 (Relatively Low, 42.0); tract 103 (Relatively Low, 41.5); tract 102 (Relatively Low, 39.9)
Wildfiretract 104 (Relatively Low, 79.3); tract 106 (Relatively Low, 70.5); tract 103 (Relatively Low, 68.7)

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 106 is Census Tract 106). 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)0
Cold/Wind Chill, Extreme Cold/Wind Chillwind chill41 records, 2011 to 2026 (41 zone-level)1 day to 11 days (median 2 days); 27 with a recorded value11 consecutive days, 2026-01-23 to 2026-02-02, zone-levelCountywide (zone-level records).
Frost/Freeze (outside NRI's Cold Wave definition)crop damage42 records, 2007 to 2021 (42 zone-level)No crop damage reported in 42 records.Countywide (zone-level records).
DroughtU.S. Drought Monitor scale (D0 to D4)0Storm 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)25 records, 1988 to 20240.75 in to 1.75 in (median 1 in); 25 with a recorded value1.75 in hail, 2008-06-22; same size also recorded on 2002-08-03Event records naming jurisdictions in the plan: Keyser city (6 records), Piedmont town (1 record).
Excessive Heat, Heatheat index (in event narratives)13 records, 2011 to 2021 (13 zone-level)1 day to 3 days (median 2 days); 6 with a recorded value3 consecutive days, 2019-07-19 to 2019-07-21, zone-levelCountywide (zone-level records).
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)6 records, 2008 to 2025 (6 zone-level)Ice Storm, 2019-12-16, $15,000 property; crops not reported (2019 dollars); NWS zone WVZ503Countywide (zone-level records).
Flash Flood, Flood, Lakeshore Flooddamage and flood days (flood depth: FIRM)54 records, 1996 to 2025Flash Flood, 1996-09-06, $500,000 property; $50,000 crops (1996 dollars)Event records naming jurisdictions in the plan: Keyser city (6 records).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)0
Lightningannualized frequency (the measure FEMA's Local Mitigation Planning Handbook names)0Storm Events lists lightning with damage or casualties.
High Wind and Strong Wind (outside NRI's Strong Wind definition)wind speed (kt and mph)20 records, 2007 to 2025 (20 zone-level)50 kt (58 mph) to 63 kt (72 mph) (median 53 kt (61 mph)); 20 with a recorded value63 kt (72 mph) measured gust, High Wind, 2023-03-04; same speed and measurement basis also recorded on 2019-11-27; NWS zone WVZ503High Wind, 2008-02-10, $5,000 property; $0 crops (zone total, 2008 dollars)Countywide (zone-level records).
Thunderstorm Windwind speed (kt and mph)128 records, 1991 to 202645 kt (52 mph) to 67 kt (77 mph) (median 52 kt (60 mph)); 112 with a recorded value67 kt (77 mph), measurement type not recorded, Thunderstorm Wind, 1991-04-09, 1 direct injuryThunderstorm Wind, 2008-06-28, $20,000 property; $0 crops (2008 dollars)Event records naming jurisdictions in the plan: Keyser city (30 records), Elk Garden town (6 records), Piedmont town (2 records), Ridgeley town (2 records).
TornadoEnhanced Fujita (Fujita before Feb 2007)2 records, 1998F/EF1 to F/EF2 (median between F/EF1 and F/EF2); 2 with a recorded valueF2 tornado, 1998-06-02, 10 mi within this county, 150 yd wide, $150,000 property; $100,000 crops (1998 dollars)Event records naming jurisdictions in the plan: Keyser city (1 record).Before 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)0
Winter Storm, Heavy Snow, Blizzard, Lake-Effect Snow, Winter Weather, Sleetnone in data (snowfall: local data)247 records, 2006 to 2026 (247 zone-level)Winter Storm, 2010-02-05, $10,000 property; crops not reported (2010 dollars); NWS zone WVZ504Countywide (zone-level records).

In event narratives only (local data needed): wind chill, temperature, heat index, ice thickness, acres burned and snow depth; any physical measure of avalanche, debris flow and lightning.

Storm Events records are more complete after 1996; before 1996 only Tornado (from 1950), Hail and Thunderstorm Wind (from 1955) exist. Zone-level records from zones that 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.

Supports FEMA checklist item B1-d: previous occurrences

Federal declarations for this county: 19 declarations covering 15 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
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
2018-07-122018-05-28DR-4378-WVMajor disasterSevere Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesInland Flooding; Landslide$1,165,194.70
2012-10-292012-10-29EM-3358-WVEmergencyHurricane SandyHurricaneno Public Assistance recorded
2012-06-302012-06-29EM-3345-WVEmergencySevere StormsHazard not mapped (severe storm title names no single hazard); not countedno Public Assistance recorded
2010-04-232010-02-05DR-1903-WVMajor disasterSevere Winter Storms and SnowstormsWinter Weather$75,560.46
2005-09-052005-08-29EM-3221-WVEmergencyHurricane Katrina EvacuationHurricane: evacuation support, not a local hazard event; not countedno Public Assistance recorded
2003-09-232003-09-18DR-1496-WVMajor disasterHurricane IsabelHurricane$38,955.20
2003-03-142003-02-16DR-1455-WVMajor disasterSevere Winter Storm, Record/Near Record Snow, Heavy Rains, Flooding and LandslidesInland Flooding; Landslide; Winter Weather$39,505.72
1996-09-111996-09-05DR-1137-WVMajor disasterHurricane Fran and Associated Heavy Rains,Flooding HighwindHurricane; Inland Flooding; Landslideno Public Assistance recorded
1996-01-251996-01-19DR-1096-WVMajor disasterFloodingInland Flooding (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
1995-07-121995-06-23DR-1060-WVMajor disasterSevere Storms, Heavy Rains, Flooding, MudslidesInland Flooding; Landslideno Public Assistance recorded
1993-03-171993-03-13EM-3109-WVEmergencySevere Snowfall & Winter StormWinter Weatherno Public Assistance recorded
1985-11-071985-11-03DR-753-WVMajor disasterSevere Storms & FloodingInland Floodingno Public Assistance recorded
1977-08-241977-08-24EM-3051-WVEmergencyDroughtDroughtno Public Assistance recorded
1977-01-191977-01-19EM-3021-WVEmergencyDroughtDroughtno 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.

Public Assistance filed under this county for declarations that do not list it: 1 row, $60,742.54

Sources: 2, 3

FEMA numberDeclaredTitleApplicantPA obligatedfederal share obligated, nominal dollars
DR-4455-WV2019-08-03Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesWest Virginia Division of Highways / District 5$60,742.54

FEMA's Public Assistance summaries file these applicants under this county, but FEMA's declaration rows for these disasters do not designate it (an electric cooperative or district serving several counties, for example). Not in any declaration row above and not counted.

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 Wave839215001996 to 2026-06-30Includes 42 Frost/Freeze records.
Drought0000201996 to 2026-06-30No Storm Events records of this type; 2 federal declared incidents (see declarations table)
Earthquake000000Storm Events does not record earthquakes; the USGS earthquake catalog is the source.
Hail25103001955 to 2026-06-30
Heat Wave13000001996 to 2026-06-30
Hurricane0000301996 to 2026-06-30No Storm Events records of this type; 3 federal declared incidents (see declarations table)
Ice Storm6103001996 to 2026-06-30
Inland Flooding54507701996 to 2026-06-30
Landslide0000501996 to 2026-06-30No Storm Events records of this type; 5 federal declared incidents (see declarations table)
Lightning0000001996 to 2026-06-30No recorded events, 1996 to 2026-06-30, NOAA NCEI Storm Events
Strong Wind14822239001955 to 2026-06-30Includes 20 High Wind records.
Tornado2000001950 to 2026-06-30
Wildfire0000001996 to 2026-06-30No recorded events, 1996 to 2026-06-30, NOAA NCEI Storm Events
Winter Weather247291565511996 to 2026-06-30

Notable Storm Events records

Sources: 1, 6, 7

DateEvent typeMagnitude or extentDamagenominal dollarsDeaths, injuriesdirect onlyLocationFlagsWhy listed
2026-01-23Extreme Cold/Wind Chilldamage not reported0, 0NWS zone WVZ504 (EASTERN MINERAL), zone-levelnew since last plan; within last 5 yearsB1-c worst recorded: Cold/Wind Chill, Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
2023-03-04High Wind63 kt (72 mph) measured gust$0 property; $0 crops (zone total, 2023 dollars)0, 0NWS zone WVZ503 (WESTERN MINERAL), zone-levelwithin last 5 yearsB1-c worst recorded: High Wind and Strong Wind
2019-12-16Ice Storm$15,000 property; crops not reported (zone total, 2019 dollars)0, 0NWS zone WVZ503 (WESTERN MINERAL), zone-levelB1-c worst recorded: Ice Storm
2019-07-19Heatdamage not reported0, 0NWS zone WVZ504 (EASTERN MINERAL), zone-levelB1-c worst recorded: Excessive Heat, Heat
2010-02-05Winter Storm$10,000 property; crops not reported (zone total, 2010 dollars)0, 0NWS zone WVZ504 (EASTERN MINERAL), zone-levelB1-c worst recorded: Winter Storm, Heavy Snow, Blizzard, Lake-Effect Snow, Winter Weather, Sleet
2008-06-28Thunderstorm Wind50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust$20,000 property; $0 crops (2008 dollars)0, 0NEW CREEKB1-c most damaging: Thunderstorm Wind
2008-06-22Hail1.75 in$20,000 property; $0 crops (2008 dollars)0, 0REESES MILL to FT ASHBYB1-c worst recorded: Hail
2008-02-10High Wind57 kt (66 mph) measured gust$5,000 property; $0 crops (zone total, 2008 dollars)0, 0NWS zone WVZ504 (EASTERN MINERAL), zone-levelB1-c most damaging: High Wind and Strong Wind
1998-06-02TornadoF2, 10 mi within this county, 150 yd wide$150,000 property; $100,000 crops (1998 dollars)0, 0KEYSER to BURLINGTONB1-c worst recorded: Tornado
1998-06-02TornadoF1, 1 mi within this county, 100 yd wide$5,000 property; $10,000 crops (1998 dollars)0, 0PATTERSON CREEKlarge reported damage
1996-09-06Flash Flood$500,000 property; $50,000 crops (1996 dollars)0, 0COUNTYWIDEB1-c worst recorded: Flash Flood, Flood, Lakeshore Flood
1991-04-09Thunderstorm Wind67 kt (77 mph), measurement type not recordeddamage not recorded (pre-1996 record)0, 1location not recordeddeaths or injuries recorded

The full list is in the Excel file, sheet "B1-d Storm Events history" (578 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 Wave3.97event-days per yearabout 3.97 days per yearLikelyStorm Events event-days in 10 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (33.3%)75.62005-11-12 to 2024-11-12 (19 years)countywide
Drought3.46event-days per yearabout 3.46 days per yearStorm Events event-days in 0 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (0%)1472000 to 2025 (25.25 years; D3 and D4 only)countywideNo Storm Events drought record, 1996 to 2025
Earthquake0.000612annual probability at a locationchance a given location in the county has at least minor-damage shaking in a year: 0.0612%not shownmodeledsee B1-fNo descriptor (Storm Events does not record earthquakes).
Hail2.16events per yearabout 2.16 per yearHighly likelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)82.2 (modeled)1986 to 2023 (38 years)countywide
Heat Wave1.5event-days per yearabout 1.5 days per yearLikelyStorm Events event-days in 6 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (20%)26.92005-11-12 to 2024-11-12 (19 years)countywide
Hurricane0.0274events per yearabout 1 in 37 yearsPossibleFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)61851 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 Storm0.335event-days per yearabout 0.335 days per yearLikelyStorm Events event-days in 6 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (20%)231946-12-31 to 2014-02-12 (67 years)countywide
Inland Flooding1.36event-days per yearabout 1.36 days per yearLikelyStorm Events event-days in 20 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (66.7%)381996 to 2023 (28 years)see B1-f
Landslide0.668events per year (modeled)about 0.67 per yearLikelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)not shownmodeledsee B1-f
Lightning38.2days per year with a strikeabout 38.2 days per yearHighly likelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)not shown1995 to 2023 (29 years; CONUS)countywide
Strong Wind2.79events per yearabout 2.79 per yearHighly likelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)1061986 to 2023 (38 years)countywide
Tornado0.0795events per yearabout 1 in 13 yearsPossibleFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)not shown1950 to 2023 (EF2+); 1986 to 2023 (EF0-1)see B1-f
Wildfire0.00051annual probability at a locationchance a given location in the county burns in a year: 0.051%Storm Events records in 0 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (0%)not shownmodeledsee B1-fNo descriptor: no Storm Events record 1996 to 2025
Winter Weather18.7event-days per yearabout 18.7 days per yearLikelyStorm Events event-days in 20 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (66.7%)3562005-11-12 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 202515300.5
Hail2.00 in+1996 to 20250300
Thunderstorm Wind (counted as NRI Strong Wind)50-64 kt1996 to 2025104303.47
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 202511300.367
TornadoEF0-11996 to 20251300.0333
TornadoEF2-31996 to 20251300.0333
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
Avalanche7 of 748.151.353.6Very Low 7
Cold Wave7 of 720.727.340.9Relatively Low 7
Drought7 of 779.985.695.4Relatively Moderate 1, Relatively Low 6
Earthquake7 of 722.432.343.5Relatively Low 1, Very Low 6
Hail7 of 764.474.879.4Relatively Moderate 5, Relatively Low 2
Heat Wave7 of 74.233.248.2Relatively Low 6, Very Low 1
Hurricane7 of 753.759.565.2Relatively Low 7
Ice Storm7 of 718.933.242.4Relatively Low 3, Very Low 4
Inland Flooding7 of 790.593.898.8Very High 2, Relatively High 5
Landslide7 of 783.695.898.1Relatively Moderate 4, Relatively Low 3
Lightning7 of 742.957.478.4Relatively High 1, Relatively Moderate 4, Relatively Low 2
Strong Wind7 of 762.375.986.3Relatively High 1, Relatively Moderate 6
Tornado7 of 727.935.542.0Relatively Low 6, Very Low 1
Wildfire7 of 743.267.179.3Relatively Low 3, Very Low 4
Winter Weather7 of 762.975.987.7Relatively High 1, Relatively Moderate 6

Cold Wave: Agriculture is 73% of NRI's expected annual loss for this hazard in the county, so the tract range mostly reflects where crop and livestock value is.

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).

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
Mineral CountyCountyApproved, expires 2029-08-26FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 9$4,517.270 total; 0 since its plan
Carpendale townTownApproved, expires 2029-08-26FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0$3,341.180 total; 0 since its plan
Elk Garden townTownApproved, expires 2029-08-26FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0$7,755.806 total; 0 since its plan
Keyser cityCityApproved, expires 2029-08-26FMA RL 0, SRL 2; any 14$80,008.2043 total; 7 since its plan
Piedmont townTownApproved, expires 2029-08-26FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0$13,301.543 total; 0 since its plan
Ridgeley townTownApproved, expires 2029-08-26FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0$7,945.502 total; 0 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 2024-08-27county-coded records, property plus crops, nominal dollarsZone-level damage since planproperty plus crops, reported for the zonePublic Assistance since plannominal dollars; see noteNote
Avalanche$208,376n/aunder 1under $1n/a$1,312under 0.0001%
Cold Wave$5,886,037,881$27,840,46926,925$14,132$85,014$17,2540.00024%$0
Droughtn/a$2,971,138n/an/a$132,192n/a4.45% (agriculture)NRI has no building exposure for this hazard; agriculture shown
Earthquake$10,248,425,629n/a26,938$62,463n/a$17,5310.000609%
Hail$5,886,039,339$27,840,46926,925$136,240$1,819$23,9570.00231%
Heat Wave$5,886,037,881$27,840,46926,925$9$7$137,403under 0.0001%
Hurricane$5,872,873,019$27,723,88526,840$142,137$19,568$6,8600.00242%
Ice Storm$5,884,829,132n/a26,915$10,706n/a$4,0430.000182%
Inland Flooding$5,879,765,391$5,322,9981,717$13,104,845$73,170$77,070n/a (see note)$0NRI 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$741,275,094n/a3,848$10,041n/a$20,4610.00135%
Lightning$5,886,039,339n/a26,925$5,944n/a$89,5860.000101%
Strong Wind$5,886,039,339$27,840,46926,925$47,119$9,404$217,7340.000801%$42,000$0
Tornado$5,886,039,339$27,840,46926,925$103,118$426$76,4430.00175%
Wildfire$317,725,447$4,959,7593,148$7,249$20$2,1650.00228%
Winter Weather$5,886,037,881$27,840,46926,925$30,399$12$18,3150.000516%$0no Public Assistance recorded (1 declaration)

Totals since 2024-08-27 (Storm Events through 2026-06-30): 25 county-coded records, 22 with a damage value recorded (including $0), $42,000; 42 zone-level records, 12 with a damage value recorded (including $0), $0 reported for the zone; Public Assistance: none recorded on the 1 counted declaration.

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
Population26,925
Building value (total, not at risk)$5,886,039,339
Agriculture value (total, not at risk)$27,840,469
NRI risk rating (all hazards)Relatively Low
Expected annual loss, buildings and agriculture, all hazards$13,996,032
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)$710,134
Social vulnerability ratingRelatively High
Community resilience ratingRelatively Moderate
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)2
Repetitive loss, NFIP insurance definition23Severe repetitive loss, NFIP insurance definition2

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 total022322301
of which: Mineral County (unincorporated area)0090901
of which: Keyser city021421400

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

Sources: 1, 4

JurisdictionNFIP community IDRL, FMApropertiesSRL, FMApropertiesRL, NFIPpropertiesSRL, NFIPpropertiesAny categorypropertiesMitigatedpropertiesCurrently insuredproperties
Mineral County5401290090901
Carpendale town5455550000000
Elk Garden town5400910000000
Keyser city540130021421400
Piedmont town5401310000000
Ridgeley town5401550000000

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 residential021821801
2 to 4 unit residential0020200
other residential0000000
non-residential0030300
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 23 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 (the summary on page 1 says how it is organized); the plan and FEMA's review decide whether each 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). Mineral County, WV: risk-assessment baseline packet, release 2026-10 (data as of 2026-09-30; County FIPS 54057). Automated baseline. https://hazardplain.org/wv/54057/ 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: contact@hazardplain.org