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PhilippiWV1Photo: Valerius Tygart · CC BY-SA 3.0
DHazard risk
Natural hazards in Philippi · FEMA

FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Philippi than in 91% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Philippi gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns, #47 of 61 in West Virginia. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (96%). Flood insurance has paid 216 claims here since 1978.

River and rain flooding 96%Hail 1%

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

more than 91%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade#47 of 61 in West Virginia
Hazard risk
D#47 of 61
in West Virginia · higher than 91% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
River and rain flooding
96% of expected building damage
Flood claims
216
paid since 1978 · $2.8M
Flooded more than once
25
properties · 1 “severe repetitive loss”
Flood insurance
10% off
Community discount (class 8)

What stands out about Philippi’s natural hazards

From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.

216 paid flood claims since 1978$2.8M in all; 25 properties flooded more than once. More per home than 98% of U.S. towns.10% off flood insuranceFlood-proofing work earns Philippi residents a discount through FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8).Moved out of harm’s way35 flood-prone properties bought out and cleared with FEMA grants.Remembers 199690 flood claims were paid for 1996 alone, the most of any year.
By hazard

What Philippi 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

96%of expected building damage
Well above average · in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about once a year in the area
Smaller shares here
 Hail Strong wind Hurricanes Earthquakes Tornadoes Winter storms Lightning Wildfire Ice storms Cold waves Heat waves Landslides
FEMA models no building damage here
Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity

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.

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.
Hazard risk grade

What’s behind Philippi’s grade

River and rain flooding is 96% of the building damage FEMA expects in Philippi, and Philippi’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.

Where Philippi sits
Philippi
Least damageMiddleMost damage

D #47 of 61 in West Virginia; higher expected damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns (21,298).

Philippi’s residents live in 3 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.

What drives the damage to buildings
River and rain flooding96%Everything else4%

The typical West Virginia town has higher expected damage than 73% of U.S. towns; within the state, Philippi has more expected damage per building than 77% of West Virginia towns.

In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.0M a year in losses across Philippi: $1.9M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

A small-area figure. Philippi covers 3 census tracts, combined by where residents live. FEMA’s model is an average year for today’s buildings, not a record: the claims and disasters below are the record.

How TownRatings grades hazard risk →

Flood insurance claims

Does Philippi flood? Yes: 216 flood claims since 1978

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Philippi, from FEMA’s records: 156.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 98% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
1978: 3 claims1979: 0 claims1980: 0 claims1981: 0 claims1982: 0 claims1983: 0 claims1984: 0 claims1985: 43 claims1986: 0 claims1987: 0 claims1988: 0 claims1989: 0 claims1990: 0 claims1991: 0 claims1992: 0 claims1993: 0 claims1994: 67 claims1995: 0 claims1996: 90 claims1997: 0 claims1998: 1 claim1999: 0 claims2000: 7 claims2001: 0 claims2002: 0 claims2003: 0 claims2004: 0 claims2005: 0 claims2006: 0 claims2007: 0 claims2008: 1 claim2009: 0 claims2010: 1 claim2011: 1 claim2012: 0 claims2013: 1 claim2014: 0 claims2015: 0 claims2016: 0 claims2017: 0 claims2018: 0 claims2019: 0 claims2020: 0 claims2021: 0 claims2022: 0 claims2023: 0 claims2024: 0 claims2025: 0 claims2026: 1 claim198519941996
19782026
216
paid claims since 1978
$2.8M
paid to owners
25
homes flooded more than once
$13K
average claim
Homes that flooded again and again
FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (1)Flooded 2+ times
of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
Community discount10% off flood insurance

Philippi is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8) for its flood-proofing work.

Insurance rates: Barbour County.
What’s been done with FEMA grants
35flood-prone properties bought out and cleared
Disasters

5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Philippi

Disasters that paid out in Philippi itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Philippi), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.

  1. 2012Hurricane Sandy$127K to the City of Philippi for repairs
  2. 2012Severe Storms and Straight-line Winds$101K to the City of Philippi for repairs
  3. 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Mudslides, and70 households applied for aid$131K aid approved$65K to the City of Philippi for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
  4. 2007Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$8K to the City of Philippi for repairs
  5. 2000Flooding, Severe Storms, and Landslides$28K to the City of Philippi for repairs7 flood claims paid that year
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in PhilippiBarbour County only

Barbour County has had 15 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.

Were you here?

Old photos of Philippi after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.

Add to the Philippi archive →
Be ready

Get ready for what Philippi faces

A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.

When the river rises
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Before you buy or rent
  • 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.
  • Philippi residents get 10% off flood insurance.
When a storm is coming
Forecast and alertsWeather →911, the nearest ERSafety →

Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.

Questions about natural hazards in Philippi

Is Philippi at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Philippi has higher expected damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #47 of 61 in West Virginia. 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 Philippi flood?

Flood insurance has paid 216 claims in Philippi since 1978, $2.8M in all, or 156.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 98% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 25 properties have flooded more than once.

Is Philippi 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 Barbour County, 7% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.6% of all homes do.

How much is flood insurance in Philippi?

Philippi is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8), which takes 10% off federal flood insurance policies for its flood-proofing work. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.

What was the biggest storm in Philippi?

By FEMA money that reached Philippi, Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Mudslides, and (2008): 70 households applied for aid, $131K approved, and $65K to the City of Philippi for repairs.

Is Philippi at risk from river and rain flooding?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (96%), and Philippi’s rate for it is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Philippi.

Town Square →
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Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Philippi’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.