Little Beaver Dam · Photo: Brian M. Powell (user Bitmapped on en.wikipedia) · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Daniels as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Daniels gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (91%). Flood insurance has paid 34 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 stands out about Daniels’ natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Daniels 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 Daniels’ grade
River and rain flooding is 91% of the building damage FEMA expects in Daniels, and Daniels’ rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 70% of U.S. census tracts.
B lower expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Daniels’ residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $419K a year in losses across Daniels: $343K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Daniels flood? Sometimes: 34 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Daniels, from FEMA’s records: 38.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 91% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The February West Virginia Flooding3 claims · $145K
- The Heavy rains1 claim · $3K
Daniels 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.7 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Daniels
Disasters that paid out in Daniels itself (aid to households or repair grants to Daniels), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2025Severe Storm, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides2 households applied for aid$8K aid approved3 flood claims paid that year
- 2012Severe Storms and Straight-line Winds8 households applied for aid$9K aid approved
- 2010Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Landslides27 households applied for aid$42K aid approved21 flood claims paid that year
- 2009Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Landslides3 households applied for aid$989 aid approved
- 2004Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides9 households applied for aid$21K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
- 2003Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides9 households applied for aid$24K aid approved
Show all 7
- 2003Severe Winter Storm, Record/near Record Snow, Heavy Rains, Flooding and Landslides7 households applied for aid$4K aid approved
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.
Old photos of Daniels after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Daniels archive →Daniels and its neighbors
Daniels is 2nd of the 2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shady Spring | Aless damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Daniels | Bless damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 34 |
| Beaver | — | 695 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.
Get ready for what Daniels 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 Daniels
Is Daniels at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Daniels has lower expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (91%). 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.
Does Daniels flood?
Flood insurance has paid 34 claims in Daniels since 1978, $729K in all, or 38.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 91% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from February West Virginia Flooding (3).
Is Daniels 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 Daniels?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Daniels’ 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 Daniels?
By FEMA money that reached Daniels, Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Landslides (2010): 27 households applied for aid, $42K approved. By flood claims, February West Virginia Flooding: 3 paid, $145K.
Is Daniels at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (91%), and Daniels’ rate for it is higher than 70% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Daniels.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Daniels’ 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.