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Beckley, West VirginiaPhoto: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0
A+Hazard risk
Natural hazards in Beckley · FEMA

On FEMA’s figures, Beckley faces less hazard damage per building than 97% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Beckley gets an A+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 97% of U.S. towns, #2 of 61 in West Virginia. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (79%), then earthquakes (10%). Flood insurance has paid 26 claims here since 1980.

River and rain flooding 79%Earthquakes 10%Strong wind 4%

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

less than 97%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade#2 of 61 in West Virginia
Hazard risk
A+#2 of 61
in West Virginia · lower than 97% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
River and rain flooding
79% of expected building damage
Flood claims
26
paid since 1980 · $336K
Flooded more than once
5
properties
Disasters paid out here
9
of 23 declared for Raleigh County

What stands out about Beckley’s natural hazards

From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.

Lower expected damage than 97% of U.S. townsFEMA’s model of yearly storm and flood damage per dollar of building.Moved out of harm’s way4 flood-prone properties bought out and cleared with FEMA grants.Remembers 20016 flood claims were paid for 2001 alone, the most of any year.
By hazard

What Beckley 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

79%of expected building damage
Well below average · lower than 85% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Earthquakes

10%of expected building damage
Above average · higher than 63% of U.S. census tracts
Smaller shares here
 Strong wind Hail Cold waves top 1% Ice storms Winter storms Hurricanes Tornadoes Lightning Wildfire Heat waves Landslides Avalanches top 2%
FEMA models no building damage here
Coastal floodingTsunamisVolcanic activity

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.

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.
Hazard risk grade

What’s behind Beckley’s grade

River and rain flooding is 79% of the building damage FEMA expects in Beckley, and Beckley’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 85% of U.S. census tracts. Cold waves add 1%, at a rate in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.

Where Beckley sits
Beckley
Least damageMiddleMost damage

A+ #2 of 61 in West Virginia; lower expected damage per building than 97% of U.S. towns (21,298).

Beckley’s residents live in 8 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.

What drives the damage to buildings
River and rain flooding79%Earthquakes10%Strong wind4%Everything else7%

The typical West Virginia town has higher expected damage than 73% of U.S. towns; within the state, Beckley has less expected damage per building than 98% of West Virginia towns.

In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.8M a year in losses across Beckley: $2.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

A firm figure. It combines 8 census tracts by where Beckley’s residents live. FEMA’s model is an average year for today’s buildings, not a record: the claims and disasters below are the record.

How TownRatings grades hazard risk →

Flood insurance claims

Does Beckley flood? Sometimes: 26 flood claims since 1980

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Beckley, from FEMA’s records: 3.0 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 52% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
1980: 1 claim1981: 1 claim1982: 0 claims1983: 0 claims1984: 0 claims1985: 0 claims1986: 0 claims1987: 1 claim1988: 0 claims1989: 0 claims1990: 0 claims1991: 0 claims1992: 0 claims1993: 0 claims1994: 0 claims1995: 0 claims1996: 0 claims1997: 0 claims1998: 0 claims1999: 0 claims2000: 1 claim2001: 6 claims2002: 2 claims2003: 1 claim2004: 3 claims2005: 0 claims2006: 0 claims2007: 0 claims2008: 1 claim2009: 0 claims2010: 4 claims2011: 0 claims2012: 0 claims2013: 3 claims2014: 0 claims2015: 0 claims2016: 0 claims2017: 0 claims2018: 0 claims2019: 2 claims2020: 0 claims2021: 0 claims2022: 0 claims2023: 0 claims2024: 0 claims2025: 0 claims2026: 0 claims200120042010
19802026
Biggest named events
  • The Heavy rains1 claim · $1K
26
paid claims since 1980
$336K
paid to owners
5
homes flooded more than once
$13K
average claim
Homes that flooded again and again
FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (0)Flooded 2+ times
of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
No community discount

Beckley isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Raleigh County.
What’s been done with FEMA grants
4flood-prone properties bought out and cleared
Disasters

9 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Beckley

Disasters that paid out in Beckley itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Beckley), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.

  1. 2025Severe Storm, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides47 households applied for aid$164K aid approved
  2. 2012Severe Storms and Straight-line Winds265 households applied for aid$103K aid approved$84K to the City of Beckley for repairs
  3. 2010Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Landslides134 households applied for aid$195K aid approved4 flood claims paid that year
  4. 2009Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$39K to the City of Beckley for repairs
  5. 2009Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Landslides38 households applied for aid$28K aid approved
  6. 2004Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides148 households applied for aid$192K aid approved3 flood claims paid that year
Show all 9
  1. 2003Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides94 households applied for aid$158K aid approved
  2. 2003Severe Winter Storm, Record/near Record Snow, Heavy Rains, Flooding and Landslides54 households applied for aid$42K aid approved
  3. 2001Severe Storms, Flooding and Landslides$14K to the City of Beckley for repairs6 flood claims paid that year
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in BeckleyRaleigh County only

Raleigh County has had 23 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 Raleigh County, 2001–2001.

Were you here?

Old photos of Beckley after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.

Add to the Beckley archive →
Next door

Beckley and its neighbors

Beckley has the lowest expected damage per building of the 3 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.

Mabscott: hazard risk BMacArthur: hazard risk BRaleigh: not gradedMabscottMacArthurRaleighBeckley
Lowest fifthSecondMiddleFourthHighest fifth
TownHazard riskMostly (buildings)Flood claims
BeckleyA+less damage than 97%river and rain flooding26
MabscottBless damage than 56%river and rain flooding39
MacArthurBless damage than 56%river and rain flooding35
Raleigh—325 residents; we grade 1,000+

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.

Be ready

Get ready for what Beckley faces

A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.

When the river rises
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Earthquakes
  • Drop, cover and hold on.
  • Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
  • Know how to shut off the gas.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Before you buy or rent
  • 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.
When a storm is coming
Forecast and alertsWeather →911, the nearest ERSafety →

Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.

Questions about natural hazards in Beckley

Is Beckley at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Beckley has lower expected damage per building than 97% of U.S. towns: A+ for hazard risk, #2 of 61 in West Virginia. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (79%) and earthquakes (10%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Does Beckley flood?

Flood insurance has paid 26 claims in Beckley since 1980, $336K in all, or 3.0 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 52% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 5 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Heavy rains (1).

Is Beckley 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 Raleigh County, 5% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.4% of all homes do.

How much is flood insurance in Beckley?

FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Beckley’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 Beckley?

By FEMA money that reached Beckley, Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Landslides (2010): 134 households applied for aid, $195K approved. By flood claims, Heavy rains: 1 paid, $1K.

Is Beckley at risk from river and rain flooding?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (79%), and Beckley’s rate for it is lower than 85% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Beckley.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Beckley’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.