Hazard Plain Automated baseline

Preston County, WV

Risk-assessment baseline packet

County FIPS:
54077
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 2029-08-12. Plan: RPDC 06 Hazard Mitigation Plan (FEMA plan 109811), approved 2024-08-13.

Since the plan was approved on 2024-08-13: 1 new hazard declaration (1 incident) and 80 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 ($7,522,016 a year), Strong Wind ($487,122) and Tornado ($353,225).

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 2029-08-12
Plan:
RPDC 06 Hazard Mitigation Plan (FEMA plan 109811)
Approved:
2024-08-13
Days to expiry:
1,047

What changed since your last plan (approved 2024-08-13)

New federal declarations:
1 new hazard declaration (1 incident): EM-3639-WV (Severe Winter Storm)
Storm Events records since approval:
80 records (data through 2026-06-30)
Repetitive loss now:
FMA RL 0, SRL 1 (44 CFR 77.2); any definition: 11
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
Preston CountyCountyApproved, expires 2029-08-12RPDC 06 Hazard Mitigation Plan (FEMA plan 109811)2024-08-132029-08-121,047this jurisdiction approved 2024-08-20
Albright townTownApproved, expires 2029-08-12RPDC 06 Hazard Mitigation Plan (FEMA plan 109811)2024-08-132029-08-121,047this jurisdiction approved 2024-08-14
Brandonville townTownApproved, expires 2029-08-12RPDC 06 Hazard Mitigation Plan (FEMA plan 109811)2024-08-132029-08-121,047this jurisdiction approved 2024-12-05
Bruceton Mills townTownApproved, expires 2029-08-12RPDC 06 Hazard Mitigation Plan (FEMA plan 109811)2024-08-132029-08-121,047this jurisdiction approved 2024-10-01
Kingwood cityCityApproved, expires 2029-08-12RPDC 06 Hazard Mitigation Plan (FEMA plan 109811)2024-08-132029-08-121,047
Masontown townTownApproved, expires 2029-08-12RPDC 06 Hazard Mitigation Plan (FEMA plan 109811)2024-08-132029-08-121,047this jurisdiction approved 2024-09-11
Newburg townTownApproved, expires 2029-08-12RPDC 06 Hazard Mitigation Plan (FEMA plan 109811)2024-08-132029-08-121,047this jurisdiction approved 2024-09-10
Reedsville townTownApproved, expires 2029-08-12RPDC 06 Hazard Mitigation Plan (FEMA plan 109811)2024-08-132029-08-121,047this jurisdiction approved 2024-08-26
Rowlesburg townTownApproved, expires 2029-08-12RPDC 06 Hazard Mitigation Plan (FEMA plan 109811)2024-08-132029-08-121,047this jurisdiction approved 2024-09-09
Terra Alta townTownApproved, expires 2029-08-12RPDC 06 Hazard Mitigation Plan (FEMA plan 109811)2024-08-132029-08-121,047this jurisdiction approved 2024-10-15
Tunnelton townTownApproved, expires 2029-08-12RPDC 06 Hazard Mitigation Plan (FEMA plan 109811)2024-08-132029-08-121,047this jurisdiction approved 2024-09-03

Plan 109811 covers 34 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$7,439,849$8,605$73,563$7,522,016101
2Strong WindRelatively LowRelatively Low$95,164$1,672$390,286$487,122268Includes 32 High Wind and 4 Strong Wind records (NOAA non-thunderstorm wind types, outside NRI's Strong Wind definition).
3TornadoRelatively LowVery Low$143,365$263$209,597$353,2257
4LightningRelatively LowRelatively Low$27,615n/a$136,454$164,0694
5Cold WaveVery LowRelatively Low$2,358$12,587$139,650$154,59512
6HailRelatively LowRelatively Low$90,939$3,749$27,320$122,00767
7HurricaneVery LowVery Low$87,603$10,343$5,520$103,4660Declared 2 times; no Storm Events record of this type.
8Winter WeatherRelatively LowRelatively Low$49,077$8$16,889$65,973214
9EarthquakeVery LowVery Low$39,295n/a$10,757$50,052Storm Events does not record earthquakes.
10Heat WaveVery LowVery Low$3under $1$42,547$42,5500No recorded events in Storm Events since 1996 (data through 2026-06-30).
11LandslideRelatively LowRelatively Low$1,485n/a$25,390$26,8751
12Ice StormVery LowVery Low$14,671n/a$7,291$21,96120
13DroughtVery LowVery Lown/a$17,892n/a$17,8928
14WildfireVery LowVery Low$7,511$9$2,813$10,3330No recorded events in Storm Events since 1996 (data through 2026-06-30).
15AvalancheVery LowVery Lowunder $1n/a$1,826$1,8260No 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 wildfire records (Storm Events records this hazard 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 9644 (Very Low, 55.9); tract 9642 (Very Low, 55.3); tract 9641.03 (Very Low, 54.7)
Earthquaketract 9640 (Very Low, 28.6); tract 9642 (Very Low, 27.8); tract 9643 (Very Low, 24.0)
Hurricanetract 9638.02 (Relatively Low, 56.1); tract 9641.01 (Relatively Low, 55.2); tract 9642 (Relatively Low, 54.2)
Landslidetract 9642 (Relatively Moderate, 97.9); tract 9645 (Relatively Moderate, 97.4); tract 9644 (Relatively Moderate, 97.2)
Tornadotract 9638.01 (Relatively Low, 46.1); tract 9638.02 (Relatively Low, 44.9); tract 9642 (Relatively Low, 44.5)
Wildfiretract 9638.02 (Relatively Low, 74.7); tract 9643 (Relatively Low, 72.3); tract 9639 (Relatively Low, 72.3)

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 9644 is Census Tract 9644). 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 chill12 records, 2009 to 2025 (12 zone-level)1 day to 3 days (median 2 days); 12 with a recorded value3 consecutive days, 2025-01-20 to 2025-01-22, zone-levelCountywide (zone-level records).
Frost/Freeze (outside NRI's Cold Wave definition)crop damage0
DroughtU.S. Drought Monitor scale (D0 to D4)8 records, 1999 to 2024 (8 zone-level)17 days to 96 days (median 61 days); 3 with a recorded value96 days (about 3.2 months), 2024-08-27 to 2024-11-30, a run of 4 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)81 records, 1975 to 20250.75 in to 2.5 in (median 1 in); 81 with a recorded value2.5 in hail, 2023-08-07Event records naming jurisdictions in the plan: Kingwood city (9 records), Bruceton Mills town (6 records), Albright town (4 records), Tunnelton town (4 records), Masontown town (3 records), Newburg town (3 records), Reedsville town (3 records), Rowlesburg town (3 records), Terra Alta town (2 records).
Excessive Heat, Heatheat index (in event narratives)0
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)20 records, 1997 to 2022 (20 zone-level)No damage reported in 20 records.Countywide (zone-level records).
Flash Flood, Flood, Lakeshore Flooddamage and flood days (flood depth: FIRM)101 records, 1996 to 2025 (13 zone-level)Flood, 1996-01-19, $710,000 property; crops not reported (1996 dollars); Storm Events area PRESTON (legacy zone code WVZ023)Event records naming jurisdictions in the plan: Masontown town (12 records), Rowlesburg town (8 records), Bruceton Mills town (6 records), Newburg town (6 records), Terra Alta town (6 records), Albright town (5 records), Kingwood city (4 records), Reedsville town (3 records), Tunnelton town (3 records), Brandonville town (1 record). Zone-level records (13) 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)1 record, 2012 (1 zone-level)Debris Flow, 2012-02-29, $30,000 property; $0 crops (2012 dollars); Storm Events area PRESTON (legacy zone code WVZ023)Countywide (zone-level records).
Lightningannualized frequency (the measure FEMA's Local Mitigation Planning Handbook names)4 records, 1996 to 1998Lightning, 1997-08-17, $300,000 property; crops not reported (1997 dollars)Event records naming jurisdictions in the plan: Bruceton Mills town (1 record), Kingwood city (1 record), Masontown town (1 record).Storm Events lists lightning with damage or casualties.
High Wind and Strong Wind (outside NRI's Strong Wind definition)wind speed (kt and mph)36 records, 1996 to 2024 (36 zone-level)39 kt (45 mph) to 60 kt (69 mph) (median 50 kt (58 mph)); 30 with a recorded value60 kt (69 mph), measurement type not recorded, High Wind, 1999-01-18; Storm Events area PRESTON (legacy zone code WVZ023)High Wind, 2009-02-11, $100,000 property; $0 crops (zone total, 2009 dollars)Countywide (zone-level records).
Thunderstorm Windwind speed (kt and mph)275 records, 1975 to 202645 kt (52 mph) to 87 kt (100 mph) (median 50 kt (58 mph)); 204 with a recorded value87 kt (100 mph) estimated gust, Thunderstorm Wind, 2012-06-29Thunderstorm Wind, 2010-07-25, $75,000 property; $0 crops (2010 dollars)Event records naming jurisdictions in the plan: Kingwood city (32 records), Bruceton Mills town (22 records), Rowlesburg town (22 records), Terra Alta town (13 records), Tunnelton town (13 records), Albright town (11 records), Masontown town (11 records), Reedsville town (10 records), Newburg town (8 records).
TornadoEnhanced Fujita (Fujita before Feb 2007)13 records, 1964 to 2026F/EF0 to F/EF3 (median between F/EF0 and F/EF1); 12 with a recorded valueF3 tornado, 1980-06-03, 21.9 mi path length (whole path, pre-1996), 33 yd wide, $2,500,000 property; crops not recorded (1980 dollars), 15 direct injuriesTornado, 1998-06-02, $5,000,000 property; $2,000,000 crops (1998 dollars)No event record names a jurisdiction in the plan.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)214 records, 1996 to 2026 (214 zone-level)Heavy Snow, 2011-10-28, $50,000 property; $0 crops (2011 dollars); Storm Events area PRESTON (legacy zone code WVZ023)Countywide (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: 24 declarations covering 19 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
2024-05-222024-04-02DR-4783-WVMajor disasterSevere Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesInland Flooding; Landslide; Strong Wind; Tornadono Public Assistance recordedin the 12 months before plan approval; within last 5 years
2020-04-032020-01-20DR-4517-WVMajor disasterCOVID-19 PandemicNon-natural, not counted$580,792.73
2020-03-132020-01-20EM-3450-WVEmergencyCOVID-19Non-natural, not countedno Public Assistance recordedsame incident as DR-4517
2019-08-022019-06-29DR-4455-WVMajor disasterSevere Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesInland Flooding (primary); also designated: Landslideno Public Assistance recorded
2018-04-172018-02-14DR-4359-WVMajor disasterSevere Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesLandslide (primary); also designated: Inland Floodingno Public Assistance recorded
2017-08-182017-07-28DR-4331-WVMajor disasterSevere Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesInland Flooding; Landslideno Public Assistance recorded
2012-11-272012-10-29DR-4093-WVMajor disasterHurricane SandyHurricane$223,571.39
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$63,746.33
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
2012-03-162012-02-29DR-4059-WVMajor disasterSevere Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Mudslides, and LandslidesInland Flooding; Landslide; Tornado$3,380.29
2010-04-232010-02-05DR-1903-WVMajor disasterSevere Winter Storms and SnowstormsWinter Weather$5,524.98
2005-09-052005-08-29EM-3221-WVEmergencyHurricane Katrina EvacuationHurricane: evacuation support, not a local hazard event; not counted$124,005.24
2003-06-212003-06-11DR-1474-WVMajor disasterSevere Storms, Flooding, and LandslidesInland Flooding; Landslide$3,106.25
2003-03-142003-02-16DR-1455-WVMajor disasterSevere Winter Storm, Record/Near Record Snow, Heavy Rains, Flooding and LandslidesInland Flooding; Landslide; Winter Weather$24,936.65
2001-06-032001-05-15DR-1378-WVMajor disasterSevere Storms, Flooding and LandslidesInland Flooding; LandslidePA not declared for this county
2000-02-282000-02-18DR-1319-WVMajor disasterFlooding, Severe Storms, and LandslidesInland Flooding (primary); also designated: Landslide$73,240.50
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
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
1980-08-151980-08-15DR-628-WVMajor disasterSevere Storms & FloodingInland Floodingno Public Assistance recorded
1972-07-031972-07-03DR-344-WVMajor disasterTropical Storm AgnesInland Flooding (primary); also designated: Hurricaneno 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 Wave12102001996 to 2026-06-30
Drought8426001996 to 2026-06-30
Earthquake000000Storm Events does not record earthquakes; the USGS earthquake catalog is the source.
Hail813016001955 to 2026-06-30
Heat Wave0000001996 to 2026-06-30No recorded events, 1996 to 2026-06-30, NOAA NCEI Storm Events
Hurricane0000201996 to 2026-06-30No Storm Events records of this type; 2 federal declared incidents (see declarations table)
Ice Storm20001001996 to 2026-06-30
Inland Flooding10182101301996 to 2026-06-30
Landslide10001001996 to 2026-06-30
Lightning4000001996 to 2026-06-30
Strong Wind3114715102201955 to 2026-06-30Includes 32 High Wind and 4 Strong Wind records.
Tornado13123201950 to 2026-06-30
Wildfire0000001996 to 2026-06-30No recorded events, 1996 to 2026-06-30, NOAA NCEI Storm Events
Winter Weather214161548511996 to 2026-06-30

Notable Storm Events records

Sources: 1, 6, 7

DateEvent typeMagnitude or extentDamagenominal dollarsDeaths, injuriesdirect onlyLocationFlagsWhy listed
2025-01-20Cold/Wind Chill$0 property; $0 crops (zone total, 2025 dollars)0, 0NWS zone WVZ512 (EASTERN PRESTON), zone-levelnew since last plan; within last 5 yearsB1-c worst recorded: Cold/Wind Chill, Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
2024-08-27Drought$0 property; crops not reported (zone total, 2024 dollars)0, 0NWS zone WVZ511 (PRESTON), zone-levelnew since last plan; within last 5 yearsB1-c worst recorded: Drought
2023-08-07Hail2.5 in$75,000 property; $75,000 crops (2023 dollars)0, 0ALBRIGHTwithin last 5 yearsB1-c worst recorded: Hail
2019-05-19Thunderstorm Wind45 kt (52 mph) estimated gustdamage not reported1, 2REDHILLdeaths or injuries recorded
2012-06-29Thunderstorm Wind87 kt (100 mph) estimated gust$50,000 property; $0 crops (2012 dollars)0, 0REEDSVILLEB1-c worst recorded: Thunderstorm Wind
2012-02-29Debris Flow$30,000 property; $0 crops (zone total, 2012 dollars)0, 0Storm Events area PRESTON (legacy zone code WVZ023), zone-levelB1-c worst recorded: Debris Flow
2011-10-28Heavy Snow$50,000 property; $0 crops (zone total, 2011 dollars)0, 0Storm Events area PRESTON (legacy zone code WVZ023), zone-levelB1-c worst recorded: Winter Storm, Heavy Snow, Blizzard, Lake-Effect Snow, Winter Weather, Sleet
1999-01-18High Wind60 kt (69 mph), measurement type not recorded$15,000 property; crops not reported (zone total, 1999 dollars)0, 0Storm Events area PRESTON (legacy zone code WVZ023), zone-levelB1-c worst recorded: High Wind and Strong Wind
1997-08-17Lightning$300,000 property; crops not reported (1997 dollars)0, 0MASONTOWNB1-c worst recorded: Lightning
1996-01-19Flood$710,000 property; crops not reported (zone total, 1996 dollars)0, 0Storm Events area PRESTON (legacy zone code WVZ023), zone-levelB1-c worst recorded: Flash Flood, Flood, Lakeshore Flood
1980-06-03TornadoF3, 21.9 mi path length (whole path, pre-1996), 33 yd wide$2,500,000 property; crops not recorded (1980 dollars)0, 15location not recordeddeaths or injuries recorded
1977-06-20TornadoF2, 6.6 mi path length (whole path, pre-1996), 50 yd wide$250,000 property; crops not recorded (1977 dollars)0, 5location not recordeddeaths or injuries recorded

The full list is in the Excel file, sheet "B1-d Storm Events history" (765 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 Wave4.19event-days per yearabout 4.19 days per yearLikelyStorm Events event-days in 8 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (26.7%)79.62005-11-12 to 2024-11-12 (19 years)countywide
Drought2.54event-days per yearabout 2.54 days per yearPossibleStorm Events event-days in 2 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (6.67%)842000 to 2025 (25.25 years; D3 and D4 only)countywide
Earthquake0.000476annual probability at a locationchance a given location in the county has at least minor-damage shaking in a year: 0.0476%not shownmodeledsee B1-fNo descriptor (Storm Events does not record earthquakes).
Hail1.95events per yearabout 1.95 per yearHighly likelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)73.9 (modeled)1986 to 2023 (38 years)countywide
Heat Wave0.632event-days per yearabout 0.632 days per yearStorm Events event-days in 0 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (0%)13.12005-11-12 to 2024-11-12 (19 years)countywideNo Storm Events heat wave record, 1996 to 2025
Hurricane0.0204events per yearabout 1 in 49 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 Storm0.35event-days per yearabout 0.35 days per yearLikelyStorm Events event-days in 13 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (43.3%)241946-12-31 to 2014-02-12 (67 years)countywide
Inland Flooding2event-days per yearabout 2 days per yearLikelyStorm Events event-days in 22 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (73.3%)561996 to 2023 (28 years)see B1-f
Landslide1.26events per year (modeled)about 1.26 per yearHighly likelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)not shownmodeledsee B1-f
Lightning43.2days per year with a strikeabout 43.2 days per yearHighly likelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)not shown1995 to 2023 (29 years; CONUS)countywide
Strong Wind1.78events per yearabout 1.78 per yearHighly likelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)681986 to 2023 (38 years)countywide
Tornado0.122events per yearabout 1 in 8 yearsLikelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)not shown1950 to 2023 (EF2+); 1986 to 2023 (EF0-1)see B1-f
Wildfire0.000157annual probability at a locationchance a given location in the county burns in a year: 0.0157%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 Weather23.8event-days per yearabout 23.8 days per yearHighly likelyStorm Events event-days in 30 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (100%)4532005-11-12 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 202542301.4
Hail2.00 in+1996 to 20252300.0667
Thunderstorm Wind (counted as NRI Strong Wind)50-64 kt1996 to 2025188306.27
Thunderstorm Wind (counted as NRI Strong Wind)65 kt+1996 to 20253300.1
Thunderstorm Wind (counted as NRI Strong Wind)unmeasured or below 50 kt1996 to 202533301.1
TornadoEF0-11996 to 20255300.167
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
Avalanche8 of 1153.053.955.9Very Low 8, Not Applicable 3
Cold Wave11 of 1122.028.834.6Relatively Low 11
Drought8 of 1172.178.189.6Relatively Low 4, Very Low 4, No Rating 3
Earthquake11 of 1111.415.728.6Very Low 11
Hail11 of 1144.661.666.4Relatively Low 11
Heat Wave11 of 112.44.98.3Very Low 11
Hurricane11 of 1145.553.156.1Relatively Low 8, Very Low 3
Ice Storm11 of 1114.331.841.6Relatively Low 3, Very Low 8
Inland Flooding11 of 1111.564.191.1Relatively High 3, Relatively Moderate 5, Relatively Low 2, Very Low 1
Landslide11 of 1174.692.097.9Relatively Moderate 3, Relatively Low 6, Very Low 2
Lightning11 of 1135.068.071.9Relatively Moderate 9, Relatively Low 2
Strong Wind11 of 1154.181.087.4Relatively High 3, Relatively Moderate 7, Relatively Low 1
Tornado11 of 1127.342.546.1Relatively Low 10, Very Low 1
Wildfire11 of 1139.166.574.7Relatively Low 4, Very Low 7
Winter Weather11 of 1155.874.483.0Relatively High 3, Relatively Moderate 8

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
Preston CountyCountyApproved, expires 2029-08-12FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 4$85,425.820 total; 0 since its plan
Albright townTownApproved, expires 2029-08-12FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0no Public Assistance recorded20 total; 2 since its plan
Brandonville townTownApproved, expires 2029-08-12FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0no Public Assistance recorded1 total; 0 since its plan
Bruceton Mills townTownApproved, expires 2029-08-12FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0no Public Assistance recorded35 total; 3 since its plan
Kingwood cityCityApproved, expires 2029-08-12FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0$35,598.0346 total; 0 since its plan
Masontown townTownApproved, expires 2029-08-12FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0$3,63227 total; 2 since its plan
Newburg townTownApproved, expires 2029-08-12FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0$4,647.6017 total; 1 since its plan
Reedsville townTownApproved, expires 2029-08-12FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0$20,798.7216 total; 4 since its plan
Rowlesburg townTownApproved, expires 2029-08-12FMA RL 0, SRL 1; any 7$54,288.9233 total; 3 since its plan
Terra Alta townTownApproved, expires 2029-08-12FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0$18,431.4521 total; 2 since its plan
Tunnelton townTownApproved, expires 2029-08-12FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0$8,256.1520 total; 1 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 2024-08-13county-coded records, property plus crops, nominal dollarsZone-level damage since planproperty plus crops, reported for the zonePublic Assistance since plannominal dollars; see noteNote
Avalanche$392,078n/aunder 1under $1n/a$1,826under 0.0001%
Cold Wave$6,202,438,375$20,793,31334,212$2,358$12,587$139,650under 0.0001%$0
Droughtn/a$1,640,588n/an/a$17,892n/a1.09% (agriculture)$0NRI has no building exposure for this hazard; agriculture shown
Earthquake$9,928,490,922n/a34,216$39,295n/a$10,7570.000396%
Hail$6,202,438,375$20,793,31334,212$90,939$3,749$27,3200.00147%$0
Heat Wave$6,202,438,375$20,793,31334,212$3under $1$42,547under 0.0001%
Hurricane$6,181,528,517$20,748,48934,054$87,603$10,343$5,5200.00142%
Ice Storm$6,186,789,097n/a34,086$14,671n/a$7,2910.000237%
Inland Flooding$6,199,366,076$442,8071,112$7,439,849$8,605$73,563n/a (see note)$26,000NRI 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$750,600,002n/a4,223$1,485n/a$25,3900.000198%
Lightning$6,202,438,375n/a34,212$27,615n/a$136,4540.000445%
Strong Wind$6,202,438,375$20,793,31334,212$95,164$1,672$390,2860.00153%$148,000
Tornado$6,202,438,375$20,793,31334,212$143,365$263$209,5970.00231%$30,000
Wildfire$2,321,024,079$6,570,71414,592$7,511$9$2,8130.000324%
Winter Weather$6,202,438,375$20,793,31334,212$49,077$8$16,8890.000791%$0no Public Assistance recorded (1 declaration)

Totals since 2024-08-13 (Storm Events through 2026-06-30): 59 county-coded records, 59 with a damage value recorded (including $0), $204,000; 21 zone-level records, 21 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
Population34,212
Building value (total, not at risk)$6,202,438,375
Agriculture value (total, not at risk)$20,793,313
NRI risk rating (all hazards)Very Low
Expected annual loss, buildings and agriculture, all hazards$8,054,061
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)$1,089,902
Social vulnerability ratingRelatively High
Community resilience ratingRelatively 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)1
Repetitive loss, NFIP insurance definition11Severe repetitive loss, NFIP insurance definition1

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 total011111101
of which: Preston County (unincorporated area)0040400
of which: Rowlesburg town0171701

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

Sources: 1, 4

JurisdictionNFIP community IDRL, FMApropertiesSRL, FMApropertiesRL, NFIPpropertiesSRL, NFIPpropertiesAny categorypropertiesMitigatedpropertiesCurrently insuredproperties
Preston County5401600040400
Albright town5401610000000
Brandonville town5402840000000
Bruceton Mills town5401620000000
Kingwood city5402540000000
Masontown town5402700000000
Newburg town5402680000000
Reedsville town5402690000000
Rowlesburg town5401630171701
Terra Alta town5402570000000
Tunnelton town5401370000000

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 residential0191901
2 to 4 unit residential0000000
other residential0000000
non-residential0020200
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 11 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). Preston County, WV: risk-assessment baseline packet, release 2026-10 (data as of 2026-09-30; County FIPS 54077). Automated baseline. https://hazardplain.org/wv/54077/ 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