riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Grant County Disaster Risk

Grant County, West Virginia

FEMA Risk Rating

Very Low

National Percentile

33th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#41

of 55 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

58th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 58% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 51% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Very Low

Higher than 15% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Very Low

Higher than 29% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 65% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Grant County

Risk Verdict

Grant County has a very low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 33th percentile nationally. This county is among the safer counties in the United States from a natural disaster perspective, though no area is entirely risk-free.

Hazard Breakdown

Hurricane risk is the dominant hazard for Grant County, scoring in the 65th percentile nationally. It is followed by flood risk at the 58th percentile. Additional hazards include wildfire (51th), earthquake (29th), tornado (15th).

Preparedness Context

With hurricane risk as the top concern, Grant County residents should know your evacuation route, stockpile supplies for at least 72 hours, and review your homeowners and flood insurance policies annually. Secondary risks such as flood also warrant attention in household and community preparedness planning. FEMA recommends all households maintain at least 72 hours of food, water, and medication supplies regardless of specific hazard exposure.

Regional Context

Grant County is notably safer than the average county in West Virginia. Its composite risk score is 16 points lower than the state average, indicating below-average exposure to natural hazards relative to other counties in the state.

Is your home insured against Grant County's risks?

Compare home and flood insurance quotes in minutes.

Get Quotes →

Sponsored

High flood risk area

Learn about NFIP flood insurance coverage for your property.

Learn More →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Grant County, WV?
Grant County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Very Low, placing it in the 33th percentile nationally out of 3,144 counties. This composite score reflects the county's overall exposure to natural hazards including floods, wildfires, tornadoes, earthquakes, and hurricanes, weighted by expected annual loss and social vulnerability.
What types of natural hazards affect Grant County?
Grant County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: hurricane (65th percentile), flooding (58th percentile), wildfire (51th percentile), earthquake (29th percentile), tornado (15th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is hurricane at the 65th percentile nationally. These scores are derived from FEMA's National Risk Index, which analyzes expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience for each hazard type.
How does Grant County risk compare to the West Virginia average?
Grant County's composite risk percentile is 33th, compared to the West Virginia state average of 49th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Grant County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in West Virginia.
Is Grant County at risk for hurricane?
Yes, Grant County's hurricane risk is at the 65th percentile nationally. This is above the national median. For flooding specifically, Grant County is at the 58th percentile.
How is natural disaster risk measured?
FEMA's National Risk Index (NRI) calculates risk scores for 18 natural hazard types across all U.S. counties and census tracts. The composite score combines Expected Annual Loss (estimated dollar losses from each hazard), Social Vulnerability (demographic factors affecting disaster impact), and Community Resilience (ability to recover). Percentile scores rank each county against all 3,144 U.S. counties, and risk ratings range from Very Low to Very High.
Is Grant County a safe place to live?
Grant County's composite risk score of 33th percentile is below the West Virginia state average of 49th percentile, indicating relatively lower exposure to natural hazards. However, no county is completely risk-free. The primary hazard type is hurricane at the 65th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Preston County

West Virginia

+0.7

Very Low

34th percentile

Webster County

West Virginia

+2.1

Very Low

35th percentile

Tyler County

West Virginia

+2.4

Very Low

36th percentile

By Logan Johnson, Founder & Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Logan Johnson, Founder & Data Editor

Data Source

Risk data sourced from the FEMA National Risk Index (NRI). Risk scores are relative rankings (0–100) across all US counties — not absolute risk measures. Higher scores indicate higher relative risk compared to other counties.

Disclaimer: This data is informational only. It is not financial, insurance, or legal advice. Always consult a qualified professional before making insurance or real estate decisions.

Explore more data for Grant County

Property TaxCost of LivingCrime RateIncomeHealthSchoolsWater QualityWeatherCounty Score