New River Gorge Bridge · Photo: JaGa · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA puts Fayetteville’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 98% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Fayetteville gets an A+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 98% of U.S. towns, #1 of 61 in West Virginia. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (87%). 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 stands out about Fayetteville’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Fayetteville 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 Fayetteville’s grade
River and rain flooding is 87% of the building damage FEMA expects in Fayetteville, and Fayetteville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 82% of U.S. census tracts. Winter storms add 1%, at a rate in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts.
A+ #1 of 61 in West Virginia; lower expected damage per building than 98% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Fayetteville’s residents live in 3 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, Fayetteville has less expected damage per building than 100% of West Virginia towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $416K a year in losses across Fayetteville: $282K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Fayetteville flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Fayetteville. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Fayetteville isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Fayette County.10 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Fayetteville
Disasters that paid out in Fayetteville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Fayetteville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides14 households applied for aid$24K aid approved
- 2016Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides49 households applied for aid$107K aid approved$19K to the Town of Fayetteville for repairs
- 2012Severe Storms and Straight-line Winds120 households applied for aid$40K aid approved$86K to the Town of Fayetteville for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Landslides15 households applied for aid$15K aid approved
- 2009Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$4K to the Town of Fayetteville for repairs
- 2004Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides8 households applied for aid$16K aid approved
Show all 10
- 2004Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides5 households applied for aid$13K aid approved
- 2003Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides22 households applied for aid$39K aid approved
- 2003Severe Winter Storm, Record/near Record Snow, Heavy Rains, Flooding and Landslides3 households applied for aid$3K aid approved
- 2001Severe Storms, Flooding and Landslides$50K to the Town of Fayetteville for repairs
Fayette County has had 20 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then winter storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Fayetteville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Fayetteville archive →Fayetteville and its neighbors
Fayetteville has the lowest expected damage per building of the 2 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville | A+less damage than 98% | river and rain flooding | 0 |
| Oak Hill | Aless damage than 92% | 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 Fayetteville 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 Fayetteville
Is Fayetteville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Fayetteville has lower expected damage per building than 98% of U.S. towns: A+ for hazard risk, #1 of 61 in West Virginia. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (87%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Fayetteville 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 Fayette County, 9% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.6% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Fayetteville?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Fayetteville’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 Fayetteville?
By FEMA money that reached Fayetteville, Severe Storms and Straight-line Winds (2012): 120 households applied for aid, $40K approved, and $86K to the Town of Fayetteville for repairs.
Is Fayetteville at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (87%), and Fayetteville’s rate for it is lower than 82% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Fayetteville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Fayetteville’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.