Wayne County
West Virginia — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 80th
Wayne County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 79.8, 80th national percentile), driven primarily by landslide and heat wave exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $31M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Landslide | Medium | 1.49 / yr | $89K |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 4.53 / yr | $2M |
| Riverine Flood | Medium | 2.29 / yr | $26M |
| Wildfire | Low | 0.00 / yr | $214K |
| Ice Storm | Medium | 0.38 / yr | $143K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 8.53 / yr | $54K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $186K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.02 / yr | $40K |
| Lightning | Low | 48.39 / yr | $148K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 2.07 / yr | $338K |
| Hail | Low | 3.22 / yr | $147K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.08 / yr | $478K |
| Drought | Very Low | 2.39 / yr | $7K |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 0.79 / yr | $202K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $22 |
| 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 Wayne County?
Wayne County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 79.8 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 80th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Wayne County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Landslide (Medium, $89K EAL), Heat Wave (Medium, $2M EAL), Riverine Flood (Medium, $26M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Wayne County compare to other West Virginia counties?
Wayne County ranks #3 of 55 West Virginia counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a 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. Wayne County's $31M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.