Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0FEMA puts Oak Hill’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 92% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Oak Hill gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns, #5 of 61 in West Virginia. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%). Flood insurance has paid 7 claims here since 1985.
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 Oak Hill 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
Earthquakes
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 Oak Hill’s grade
River and rain flooding is 82% of the building damage FEMA expects in Oak Hill, and Oak Hill’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 71% of U.S. census tracts. Winter storms add 1%, at a rate in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts.
A #5 of 61 in West Virginia; lower expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Oak Hill’s residents live in 6 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, Oak Hill has less expected damage per building than 93% of West Virginia towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.4M a year in losses across Oak Hill: $931K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Oak Hill flood? Rarely: 7 flood claims since 1985
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Oak Hill, from FEMA’s records: 1.8 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 64% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Oak Hill 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 Oak Hill
Disasters that paid out in Oak Hill itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Oak Hill), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides20 households applied for aid$41K aid approved
- 2016Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides31 households applied for aid$66K aid approved$4K to the City of Oak Hill for repairs
- 2012Severe Storms and Straight-line Winds200 households applied for aid$52K aid approved$87K to the City of Oak Hill for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Landslides32 households applied for aid$29K aid approved$8K to the City of Oak Hill for repairs
- 2009Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$17K to the City of Oak Hill for repairs
- 2004Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides3 households applied for aid$6K aid approved
Show all 10
- 2004Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides19 households applied for aid$26K aid approved
- 2003Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides26 households applied for aid$41K aid approved
- 2003Severe Winter Storm, Record/near Record Snow, Heavy Rains, Flooding and Landslides12 households applied for aid$11K aid approved
- 2001Severe Storms, Flooding and Landslides$40K to the City of Oak Hill for repairs3 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 Oak Hill after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Oak Hill archive →Oak Hill and its neighbors
Oak Hill 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville | A+less damage than 98% | river and rain flooding | — |
| 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 Oak Hill 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.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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 Oak Hill
Is Oak Hill at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Oak Hill has lower expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #5 of 61 in West Virginia. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%) and earthquakes (8%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Oak Hill flood?
Flood insurance has paid 7 claims in Oak Hill since 1985, $91K in all, or 1.8 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 64% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Oak Hill 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 Oak Hill?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Oak Hill’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 Oak Hill?
By FEMA money that reached Oak Hill, Severe Storms and Straight-line Winds (2012): 200 households applied for aid, $52K approved, and $87K to the City of Oak Hill for repairs.
Is Oak Hill at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (82%), and Oak Hill’s rate for it is lower than 71% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Oak Hill.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Oak Hill’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.