Hardy County

West Virginia — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment

Very Low

Composite Risk Score

42.5

National percentile: 42th

Hardy County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 42.5, 42th national percentile), driven primarily by landslide and hurricane exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $11M.

Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025

Expected Annual Loss $11M Annualized county-level EAL
Social Vulnerability High Population sensitivity
Community Resilience Low Capacity to recover
Population 14K Latest estimate

Top Hazards

Landslide
Medium $45K/yr
Hurricane
Low $618K/yr
Avalanche
Low $3K/yr

All 18 Hazard Risks

Landslide Medium 1.26 / yr $45K
Hurricane Low 0.04 / yr $618K
Avalanche Low 0.01 / yr $3K
Riverine Flood Low 1.36 / yr $9M
Wildfire Very Low 0.00 / yr $57K
Drought Low 3.79 / yr $136K
Hail Low 2.23 / yr $131K
Cold Wave Low 2.59 / yr $430K
Winter Weather Low 14.15 / yr $29K
Earthquake Very Low 0.00 / yr $79K
Strong Wind Low 3.22 / yr $246K
Lightning Very Low 37.61 / yr $62K
Heat Wave Very Low 1.79 / yr $53K
Tornado Very Low 0.15 / yr $134K
Ice Storm Very Low 0.41 / yr $5K
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 Hardy County?

Hardy County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 42.5 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 42th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.

What are the top natural hazards in Hardy County?

The three highest-rated hazards are Landslide (Medium, $45K EAL), Hurricane (Low, $618K EAL), Avalanche (Low, $3K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.

How does Hardy County compare to other West Virginia counties?

Hardy County ranks #33 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. Hardy County's $11M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.