Photo: WeaponizingArchitecture · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Huntington faces more hazard damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Huntington gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns, #26 of 61 in West Virginia. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (92%). Flood insurance has paid 258 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 Huntington’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Huntington 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 Huntington’s grade
River and rain flooding is 92% of the building damage FEMA expects in Huntington, and Huntington’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 82% of U.S. census tracts.
C #26 of 61 in West Virginia; higher expected damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Huntington’s residents live in 25 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, Huntington has less expected damage per building than 58% of West Virginia towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $19.9M a year in losses across Huntington: $16.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Huntington flood? Yes: 258 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Huntington, from FEMA’s records: 10.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 75% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Ivan21 claims · $210K
- The Storm1 claim · $14K
Huntington 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 Huntington
Disasters that paid out in Huntington itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Huntington), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2025Severe Storm, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides27 households applied for aid$229K aid approved40 flood claims paid that year
- 2024Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides106 households applied for aid$384K aid approved
- 2021Severe Storms and Flooding68 households applied for aid$168K aid approved
- 2021Severe Winter Storms$223K to the City of Huntington for repairs
- 2012Severe Storms and Straight-line Winds29 households applied for aid$14K aid approved$30K to the City of Huntington for repairs
- 2004Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides54 households applied for aid$96K aid approved$2K to the City of Huntington for repairs
Show all 11
- 2004Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides11 households applied for aid$10K aid approved
- 2003Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides19 households applied for aid$50K aid approved
- 2003Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides33 households applied for aid$45K aid approved
- 2003Severe Winter Storm, Record/near Record Snow, Heavy Rains, Flooding and Landslides32 households applied for aid$37K aid approved
- 2000Flooding, Severe Storms, and Landslides$7K to the City of Huntington for repairs14 flood claims paid that year
Its 2 counties have had 31 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 2 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in its 2 counties, 2001–2001.
Old photos of Huntington after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Huntington archive →Huntington and its neighbors
Huntington is 2nd of the 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burlington | B−more damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Huntington | Cmore damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 258 |
| Ceredo | C−more damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | 12 |
| Fayette Township | C−more damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Union Township | Dmore damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | 72 |
| Barboursville | Dmore damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Chesapeake | — | not graded yet | |
| Proctorville | — | 635 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 Huntington 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 Huntington
Is Huntington at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Huntington has higher expected damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #26 of 61 in West Virginia. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (92%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Huntington flood?
Flood insurance has paid 258 claims in Huntington since 1978, $4.9M in all, or 10.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 75% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 45 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Ivan (21).
Is Huntington 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 Huntington?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Huntington’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 Huntington?
By FEMA money that reached Huntington, Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (2024): 106 households applied for aid, $384K approved. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Ivan: 21 paid, $210K.
Is Huntington at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (92%), and Huntington’s rate for it is higher than 82% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Huntington.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Huntington’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.