Pocahontas County
West Virginia — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 28th
Pocahontas County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 27.5, 28th national percentile), driven primarily by landslide and avalanche exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $7M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Landslide | Medium | 2.26 / yr | $42K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $2K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 1.36 / yr | $6M |
| Lightning | Low | 41.25 / yr | $184K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 5.32 / yr | $672K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $46K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 22.49 / yr | $27K |
| Drought | Low | 2.60 / yr | $29K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $27K |
| Hail | Very Low | 1.96 / yr | $49K |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | 1.41 / yr | $99K |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.24 / yr | $7K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $3K |
| Tornado | Very Low | 0.07 / yr | $18K |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Heat Wave | 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 Pocahontas County?
Pocahontas County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 27.5 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 28th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Pocahontas County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Landslide (Medium, $42K EAL), Avalanche (Very Low, $2K EAL), Riverine Flood (Low, $6M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Pocahontas County compare to other West Virginia counties?
Pocahontas County ranks #45 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. Pocahontas County's $7M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.