riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Monroe County Disaster Risk

Monroe County, West Virginia

FEMA Risk Rating

Very Low

National Percentile

28th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#44

of 55 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

49th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 49% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 50% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Very Low

Higher than 10% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 44% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 46% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Monroe County

Risk Verdict

Monroe County has a very low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 28th 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

Wildfire risk is the dominant hazard for Monroe County, scoring in the 50th percentile nationally. It is followed by flood risk at the 49th percentile. Additional hazards include hurricane (46th), earthquake (44th), tornado (10th).

Preparedness Context

With wildfire risk as the top concern, Monroe County residents should create defensible space around your property, sign up for local emergency alerts, and prepare a go-bag with essential documents and medications. 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

Monroe County is notably safer than the average county in West Virginia. Its composite risk score is 20.9 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 Monroe County's risks?

Compare home and flood insurance quotes in minutes.

Get Quotes →

Sponsored

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Monroe County, WV?
Monroe County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Very Low, placing it in the 28th 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 Monroe County?
Monroe County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: wildfire (50th percentile), flooding (49th percentile), hurricane (46th percentile), earthquake (44th percentile), tornado (10th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is wildfire at the 50th 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 Monroe County risk compare to the West Virginia average?
Monroe County's composite risk percentile is 28th, compared to the West Virginia state average of 49th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Monroe County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in West Virginia.
Is Monroe County at risk for wildfire?
Yes, Monroe County's wildfire risk is at the 50th percentile nationally. This is above the national median. For flooding specifically, Monroe County is at the 49th 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 Monroe County a safe place to live?
Monroe County's composite risk score of 28th 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 wildfire at the 50th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Pocahontas County

West Virginia

-0.7

Very Low

28th percentile

Pendleton County

West Virginia

+1.8

Very Low

30th percentile

Morgan County

West Virginia

+2.2

Very Low

30th 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 Monroe County

Property TaxCost of LivingCrime RateIncomeHealthSchoolsWater QualityWeatherCounty Score