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Mercer Street, Princeton, West Virginia, 2023Photo: Princetonnative · CC BY 4.0
B+Hazard risk
Natural hazards in Princeton · FEMA

On FEMA’s figures, Princeton faces less hazard damage per building than 69% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Princeton gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 69% of U.S. towns, #12 of 61 in West Virginia. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (91%). Flood insurance has paid 40 claims here since 1982.

River and rain flooding 91%Earthquakes 5%Strong wind 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

less than 69%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade#12 of 61 in West Virginia
Hazard risk
B+#12 of 61
in West Virginia · lower than 69% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
River and rain flooding
91% of expected building damage
Flood claims
40
paid since 1982 · $1.4M
Flooded more than once
5
properties
Disasters paid out here
9
of 22 declared for Mercer County

What stands out about Princeton’s natural hazards

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

Lower expected damage than 69% of U.S. townsFEMA’s model of yearly storm and flood damage per dollar of building.Moved out of harm’s way8 flood-prone properties bought out and cleared with FEMA grants.Remembers 199512 flood claims were paid for 1995 alone, the most of any year.
By hazard

What Princeton 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

91%of expected building damage
About average · higher than 60% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Earthquakes

5%of expected building damage
About average · higher than 57% of U.S. census tracts
Smaller shares here
 Strong wind Tornadoes Hail Hurricanes Winter storms Lightning Wildfire Ice storms Cold waves Landslides
FEMA models no building damage here
Coastal floodingHeat wavesAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity
People, not buildings.Counting harm to people as well as buildings, FEMA’s model puts cold waves at 16% of Princeton’s expected losses. Cold waves do little damage to buildings (0.1%), so they aren’t part of the grade.

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 Princeton’s grade

River and rain flooding is 91% of the building damage FEMA expects in Princeton, and Princeton’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 60% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 5% (higher than 57% of U.S. census tracts).

Where Princeton sits
Princeton
Least damageMiddleMost damage

B+ #12 of 61 in West Virginia; lower expected damage per building than 69% of U.S. towns (21,298).

Princeton’s residents live in 6 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.

What drives the damage to buildings
River and rain flooding91%Earthquakes5%Everything else4%

The typical West Virginia town has higher expected damage than 73% of U.S. towns; within the state, Princeton has less expected damage per building than 82% of West Virginia towns.

In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.7M a year in losses across Princeton: $1.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

Recent disaster.FEMA’s model looks at expected damage to the buildings standing today. After Severe Storm, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides in 2025, FEMA took 308 aid registrations from Princeton addresses (the town has 3,400 homes).
A small-area figure. Princeton covers 6 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 Princeton flood? Sometimes: 40 flood claims since 1982

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Princeton, from FEMA’s records: 11.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 77% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
1982: 1 claim1983: 0 claims1984: 0 claims1985: 0 claims1986: 0 claims1987: 0 claims1988: 0 claims1989: 0 claims1990: 0 claims1991: 0 claims1992: 0 claims1993: 0 claims1994: 0 claims1995: 12 claims1996: 2 claims1997: 0 claims1998: 0 claims1999: 0 claims2000: 0 claims2001: 7 claims2002: 1 claim2003: 4 claims2004: 0 claims2005: 0 claims2006: 0 claims2007: 0 claims2008: 1 claim2009: 1 claim2010: 5 claims2011: 0 claims2012: 1 claim2013: 0 claims2014: 0 claims2015: 0 claims2016: 0 claims2017: 1 claim2018: 0 claims2019: 0 claims2020: 1 claim2021: 0 claims2022: 0 claims2023: 0 claims2024: 0 claims2025: 3 claims2026: 0 claims199520012010
19822026
Biggest named events
  • The February West Virginia Flooding3 claims · $227K
  • The Storm1 claim · $250
40
paid claims since 1982
$1.4M
paid to owners
5
homes flooded more than once
$36K
average claim
Homes that flooded again and again
FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (0)Flooded 2+ times
of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
No community discount

Princeton isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Mercer County.
What’s been done with FEMA grants
8flood-prone properties bought out and cleared
Disasters

9 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Princeton

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

  1. 2025Severe Storm, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides308 households applied for aid$1.5M aid approved3 flood claims paid that year
  2. 2024Post-tropical Storm Helene283 households applied for aid$649K aid approved
  3. 2012Severe Storms and Straight-line Winds51 households applied for aid$14K aid approved$5K to the City of Princeton for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
  4. 2010Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Landslides259 households applied for aid$614K aid approved$22K to the City of Princeton for repairs5 flood claims paid that year
  5. 2009Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$15K to the City of Princeton for repairs
  6. 2009Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Landslides47 households applied for aid$34K aid approved
Show all 9
  1. 2004Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides221 households applied for aid$210K aid approved
  2. 2003Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides160 households applied for aid$311K aid approved
  3. 2003Severe Winter Storm, Record/near Record Snow, Heavy Rains, Flooding and Landslides48 households applied for aid$54K aid approved
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in PrincetonMercer County only

Mercer County has had 22 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.

Also 1 FEMA wildfire suppression grant (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Mercer County, 2001–2001.

Were you here?

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

Add to the Princeton archive →
Be ready

Get ready for what Princeton 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 ↗
Earthquakes
  • Drop, cover and hold on.
  • Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
  • Know how to shut off the gas.
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.
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 Princeton

Is Princeton at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Princeton has lower expected damage per building than 69% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #12 of 61 in West Virginia. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (91%) and earthquakes (5%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Does Princeton flood?

Flood insurance has paid 40 claims in Princeton since 1982, $1.4M in all, or 11.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 77% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 5 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from February West Virginia Flooding (3).

Is Princeton 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 Mercer County, 13% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.8% of all homes do.

How much is flood insurance in Princeton?

FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Princeton’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 Princeton?

By FEMA money that reached Princeton, Severe Storm, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (2025): 308 households applied for aid, $1.5M approved. By flood claims, February West Virginia Flooding: 3 paid, $227K.

Is Princeton at risk from river and rain flooding?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (91%), and Princeton’s rate for it is higher than 60% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Princeton.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

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