Photo: Tim Kiser (w:User:Malepheasant) · CC BY-SA 2.5More hazard damage per building is expected in Barboursville than in 94% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Barboursville gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns, #51 of 61 in West Virginia. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (97%). Flood insurance has paid 7 claims here since 1978.
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 Barboursville 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
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 Barboursville’s grade
River and rain flooding is 97% of the building damage FEMA expects in Barboursville, and Barboursville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts.
D #51 of 61 in West Virginia; higher expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Barboursville’s residents live in 5 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical West Virginia town has higher expected damage than 73% of U.S. towns; within the state, Barboursville has more expected damage per building than 83% of West Virginia towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.0M a year in losses across Barboursville: $2.6M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Barboursville flood? Rarely: 7 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Barboursville, from FEMA’s records: 4.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 55% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Barboursville isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Cabell County.11 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Barboursville
Disasters that paid out in Barboursville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Village of Barboursville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides6 households applied for aid$16K aid approved
- 2021Severe Storms and Flooding28 households applied for aid$115K aid approved
- 2015Severe Winter Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$249K to the Village of Barboursville for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2012Severe Storms and Straight-line Winds4 households applied for aid$4K aid approved
- 2007Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$9K to the Village of Barboursville for repairs
- 2004Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides39 households applied for aid$165K aid approved
Show all 11
- 2004Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides8 households applied for aid$5K aid approved
- 2003Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides7 households applied for aid$7K aid approved
- 2003Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides4 households applied for aid$3K aid approved
- 2003Severe Winter Storm, Record/near Record Snow, Heavy Rains, Flooding and Landslides7 households applied for aid$14K aid approved
- 2000Flooding, Severe Storms, and Landslides$2K to the Village of Barboursville for repairs
Cabell County has had 25 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.
Also 1 FEMA wildfire suppression grant (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Cabell County, 2001–2001.
Old photos of Barboursville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Barboursville archive →Barboursville and its neighbors
Barboursville is 3rd of the 3 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntington | Cmore damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 258 |
| Pea Ridge | Dmore damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Barboursville | Dmore damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
Hazard risk = FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade; the map is shaded by fifths of the same scale. Flood claims = paid federal flood insurance claims on record.
Get ready for what Barboursville 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.
- 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 Barboursville
Is Barboursville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Barboursville has higher expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #51 of 61 in West Virginia. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (97%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Barboursville flood?
Flood insurance has paid 7 claims in Barboursville since 1978, $65K in all, or 4.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 55% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Barboursville 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 Cabell County, 14% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.9% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Barboursville?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Barboursville’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 Barboursville?
By FEMA money that reached Barboursville, Severe Winter Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (2015): $249K to the Village of Barboursville for repairs.
Is Barboursville at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (97%), and Barboursville’s rate for it is in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Barboursville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Barboursville’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.