Gilmer County
West Virginia — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 11th
Gilmer County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 11.5, 11th national percentile), driven primarily by landslide and hurricane exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $6M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Landslide | Medium | 0.93 / yr | $62K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.02 / yr | $40K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 1.64 / yr | $5M |
| Drought | Very Low | 6.66 / yr | $10K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $33 |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $27K |
| Lightning | Very Low | 46.91 / yr | $64K |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 2.58 / yr | $38K |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 1.00 / yr | $154K |
| Hail | Very Low | 2.15 / yr | $43K |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 8.58 / yr | $10K |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | 0.75 / yr | $70K |
| Tornado | Very Low | 0.03 / yr | $18K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $604 |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $442 |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Gilmer County?
Gilmer County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 11.5 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 11th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Gilmer County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Landslide (Medium, $62K EAL), Hurricane (Very Low, $40K EAL), Riverine Flood (Low, $5M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Gilmer County compare to other West Virginia counties?
Gilmer County ranks #54 of 55 West Virginia counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
What does Expected Annual Loss (EAL) mean?
EAL is FEMA's estimate of average annual dollar losses from natural hazards, calculated from historical event data and exposure models. Gilmer County's $6M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.