New River Company General Office Building · Photo: Coal town guy · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Mount Hope faces more hazard damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Mount Hope gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (96%). Flood insurance has paid 39 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 Mount Hope’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Mount Hope 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 Mount Hope’s grade
River and rain flooding is 96% of the building damage FEMA expects in Mount Hope, and Mount Hope’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts.
D higher expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Mount Hope’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $636K a year in losses across Mount Hope: $554K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Mount Hope flood? Sometimes: 39 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Mount Hope, from FEMA’s records: 53.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 93% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Heavy rains3 claims · $4K
- The February West Virginia Flooding1 claim · $10K
Mount Hope 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.12 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Mount Hope
Disasters that paid out in Mount Hope itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Mount Hope), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2025Severe Storm, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides8 households applied for aid$33K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
- 2024Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides8 households applied for aid$17K aid approved
- 2016Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides12 households applied for aid$8K aid approved$9K to the City of Mount Hope for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2012Severe Storms and Straight-line Winds71 households applied for aid$35K aid approved$20K to the City of Mount Hope for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Landslides153 households applied for aid$376K aid approved$36K to the City of Mount Hope for repairs14 flood claims paid that year
- 2009Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$8K to the City of Mount Hope for repairs
Show all 12
- 2009Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Landslides5 households applied for aid$10K aid approved
- 2004Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides2 households applied for aid$7K aid approved
- 2004Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides23 households applied for aid$29K aid approved
- 2003Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides63 households applied for aid$119K aid approved
- 2003Severe Winter Storm, Record/near Record Snow, Heavy Rains, Flooding and Landslides6 households applied for aid$3K aid approved
- 2001Severe Storms, Flooding and Landslides$132K to the City of Mount Hope for repairs11 flood claims paid that year
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 Mount Hope after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Mount Hope archive →Get ready for what Mount Hope 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 Mount Hope
Is Mount Hope at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Mount Hope has higher expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (96%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Mount Hope flood?
Flood insurance has paid 39 claims in Mount Hope since 1978, $300K in all, or 53.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 93% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 6 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Heavy rains (3).
Is Mount Hope 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 Mount Hope?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Mount Hope’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 Mount Hope?
By FEMA money that reached Mount Hope, Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Landslides (2010): 153 households applied for aid, $376K approved, and $36K to the City of Mount Hope for repairs. By flood claims, Heavy rains: 3 paid, $4K.
Is Mount Hope at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (96%), and Mount Hope’s rate for it is in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Mount Hope.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Mount Hope’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.