riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Hardy County Disaster Risk

Hardy County, West Virginia

FEMA Risk Rating

Very Low

National Percentile

42th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#33

of 55 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

65th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 65% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 57% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Very Low

Higher than 16% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Very Low

Higher than 33% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 73% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Hardy County

Risk Verdict

Hardy County has a very low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 42th 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 Hardy County, scoring in the 73th percentile nationally. It is followed by flood risk at the 65th percentile. Additional hazards include wildfire (57th), earthquake (33th), tornado (16th).

Preparedness Context

With hurricane risk as the top concern, Hardy 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

Hardy County is notably safer than the average county in West Virginia. Its composite risk score is 6.8 points lower than the state average, indicating below-average exposure to natural hazards relative to other counties in the state.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Hardy County, WV?
Hardy County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Very Low, placing it in the 42th 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 Hardy County?
Hardy County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: hurricane (73th percentile), flooding (65th percentile), wildfire (57th percentile), earthquake (33th percentile), tornado (16th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is hurricane at the 73th 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 Hardy County risk compare to the West Virginia average?
Hardy County's composite risk percentile is 42th, compared to the West Virginia state average of 49th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Hardy County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in West Virginia.
Is Hardy County at risk for hurricane?
Yes, Hardy County's hurricane risk is at the 73th percentile nationally. This is above the national median. For flooding specifically, Hardy County is at the 65th 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 Hardy County a safe place to live?
Hardy County's composite risk score of 42th 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 73th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Lewis County

West Virginia

+1.2

Relatively Low

44th percentile

Hancock County

West Virginia

-1.8

Very Low

41th percentile

Summers County

West Virginia

-2.2

Very Low

40th 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.

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