Ritchie County
West Virginia — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 16th
Ritchie County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 16.1, 16th 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 | 1.26 / yr | $48K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.03 / yr | $46K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 1.61 / yr | $5M |
| Drought | Low | 3.68 / yr | $39K |
| Lightning | Low | 46.11 / yr | $83K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $32K |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 2.95 / yr | $51K |
| Hail | Very Low | 2.36 / yr | $48K |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.09 / yr | $9K |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 1.32 / yr | $122K |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 8.37 / yr | $9K |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | 0.81 / yr | $72K |
| Tornado | Very Low | 0.06 / yr | $51K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $1K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| 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 Ritchie County?
Ritchie County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 16.1 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 16th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Ritchie County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Landslide (Medium, $48K EAL), Hurricane (Very Low, $46K EAL), Riverine Flood (Low, $5M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Ritchie County compare to other West Virginia counties?
Ritchie County ranks #51 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. Ritchie County's $6M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.