First United Methodist Church · Photo: Bwsmith84 at English Wikipedia · CC BY 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Woodsfield faces less hazard damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Woodsfield gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%). FEMA’s files show no paid flood insurance claims here.
Graded on FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value (NRI v1.20, December 2025), weighted by where residents live; flood claims are shown, not graded. How hazard risk is graded
What Woodsfield faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
River and rain flooding
Tornadoes
Shares are of FEMA’s expected building damage, the measure the grade uses; ranks compare each hazard’s building-damage rate with all 85,154 U.S. census tracts. In FEMA’s terms, river and rain flooding is FEMA’s “Inland Flooding” (rivers and streams overflowing their banks, or rain overwhelming drainage). FEMA defines coastal flooding as high or rising tides and storm surge, so surge damage is counted there. Drought isn’t listed: FEMA counts its losses in crops only.
What’s behind Woodsfield’s grade
River and rain flooding is 82% of the building damage FEMA expects in Woodsfield, and Woodsfield’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 76% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 5% (lower than 53% of U.S. census tracts).
A lower expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Woodsfield’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $509K a year in losses across Woodsfield: $348K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Woodsfield flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Woodsfield. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Woodsfield isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Monroe County.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Woodsfield
Disasters that paid out in Woodsfield itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Village of Woodsfield), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2019Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides$179K to the Village of Woodsfield for repairs
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding21 households applied for aid$136K aid approved$9K to the Village of Woodsfield for repairs
- 2003Severe Winter Storm and Record/near Record Snow$8K to the Village of Woodsfield for repairs
Monroe County has had 18 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Woodsfield after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Woodsfield archive →Get ready for what Woodsfield faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- Turn around at flooded roads: a foot of moving water can carry off a car.
- Flood insurance usually takes 30 days to start, so buy it before the forecast.
- Keep papers and medicines up high, in a grab-and-go bag.
- Pick your spot now: the lowest floor, an inside room, no windows.
- A watch means be ready; a warning means take cover now.
- Keep shoes and a flashlight by the bed.
- Look up the address on FEMA’s flood map.
- Ask the seller or landlord whether it has ever flooded, and what flood insurance costs there.
- Get a flood insurance quote early: policies usually start 30 days after you buy.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Woodsfield
Is Woodsfield at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Woodsfield has lower expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%) and tornadoes (5%). The figures are for the one census tract the town shares with its neighbors. This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Woodsfield in a flood zone?
Flood zones are drawn street by street, so the answer depends on the address: look it up on FEMA’s flood map. In Monroe County, 8% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Woodsfield?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Woodsfield’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Woodsfield?
By FEMA money that reached Woodsfield, Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides (2019): $179K to the Village of Woodsfield for repairs.
Is Woodsfield at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (82%), and Woodsfield’s rate for it is lower than 76% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Woodsfield.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Woodsfield’s residents lived in the 2020 census; OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. Preparedness tips: Ready.gov. FEMA’s model is an average of expected damage, not a forecast. How hazard risk is graded.