Rees, Morris, III House · Photo: JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ MD · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Inwood faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Inwood gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns, #16 of 61 in West Virginia. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%), then hurricanes (10%). 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 Inwood 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
Hurricanes
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 Inwood’s grade
River and rain flooding is 82% of the building damage FEMA expects in Inwood, and Inwood’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 61% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 10% (higher than 81% of U.S. census tracts).
B #16 of 61 in West Virginia; lower expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Inwood’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, Inwood has less expected damage per building than 75% of West Virginia towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $834K a year in losses across Inwood: $670K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Inwood flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Inwood. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Inwood isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Berkeley County.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Inwood
Disasters that paid out in Inwood itself (aid to households or repair grants to Inwood), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2004Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides20 households applied for aid$43K aid approved
- 2003Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides27 households applied for aid$92K aid approved
Berkeley County has had 14 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 Inwood after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Inwood archive →Get ready for what Inwood 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.
- The season runs June through November and peaks from mid-August to mid-October.
- Bring in porch furniture and anything the wind can throw.
- Fill the gas tank and charge phones before the storm arrives.
- 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 Inwood
Is Inwood at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Inwood has lower expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #16 of 61 in West Virginia. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%) and hurricanes (10%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Inwood 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 Berkeley County, 9% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Inwood?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Inwood’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 Inwood?
By FEMA money that reached Inwood, Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides (2003): 27 households applied for aid, $92K approved.
Is Inwood at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (82%), and Inwood’s rate for it is higher than 61% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Inwood.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Inwood’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.