Photo: Youngamerican at English Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Richwood faces more hazard damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Richwood gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (97%). Flood insurance has paid 121 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 Richwood’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Richwood 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 Richwood’s grade
River and rain flooding is 97% of the building damage FEMA expects in Richwood, and Richwood’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts.
D higher expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Richwood’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.8M a year in losses across Richwood: $1.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Richwood flood? Yes: 121 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Richwood, from FEMA’s records: 98.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 96% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Summer severe storms38 claims · $3.8M
- The Heavy rains20 claims · $328K
Richwood isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Nicholas County.10 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Richwood
Disasters that paid out in Richwood itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Richwood), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides14 households applied for aid$96K aid approved
- 2016Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides408 households applied for aid$1.0M aid approved$2.4M to the City of Richwood for repairs39 flood claims paid that year
- 2015Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$29K to the City of Richwood for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy$11K to the City of Richwood for repairs
- 2012Severe Storms and Straight-line Winds45 households applied for aid$14K aid approved$8K to the City of Richwood for repairs
- 2009Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$4K to the City of Richwood for repairs
Show all 10
- 2004Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides4 households applied for aid$14K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
- 2003Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides170 households applied for aid$497K aid approved$111K to the City of Richwood for repairs
- 2003Severe Winter Storm, Record/near Record Snow, Heavy Rains, Flooding and Landslides8 households applied for aid$6K aid approved$3K to the City of Richwood for repairs
- 2001Severe Storms, Flooding and Landslides$18K to the City of Richwood for repairs20 flood claims paid that year
Nicholas County has had 21 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.
Old photos of Richwood after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Richwood archive →Get ready for what Richwood 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 Richwood
Is Richwood at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Richwood has higher expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (97%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Richwood flood?
Flood insurance has paid 121 claims in Richwood since 1978, $6.6M in all, or 98.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 96% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 11 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Summer severe storms (38).
Is Richwood 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 Nicholas 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 Richwood?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Richwood’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 Richwood?
By FEMA money that reached Richwood, Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (2016): 408 households applied for aid, $1.0M approved, and $2.4M to the City of Richwood for repairs. By flood claims, Summer severe storms: 38 paid, $3.8M.
Is Richwood at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (97%), and Richwood’s rate for it is in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Richwood.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Richwood’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.