Photo: Mitchazenia · CC BY-SA 4.0Storms, floods and disasters in Rowlesburg
Rowlesburg isn’t graded for hazard risk: Rowlesburg has 773 residents; we grade towns of 1,000 or more. Flood insurance has paid 29 claims here since 1985.
What Rowlesburg 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.
Does Rowlesburg flood? Sometimes: 29 flood claims since 1985
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Rowlesburg, from FEMA’s records.
Rowlesburg isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Preston County.5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Rowlesburg
Disasters that paid out in Rowlesburg itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Rowlesburg), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2012Hurricane Sandy$10K to the Town of Rowlesburg for repairs
- 2012Severe Storms and Straight-line Winds$5K to the Town of Rowlesburg for repairs
- 2003Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides10 households applied for aid$22K aid approved
- 2003Severe Winter Storm, Record/near Record Snow, Heavy Rains, Flooding and Landslides$7K to the Town of Rowlesburg for repairs
- 2000Flooding, Severe Storms, and Landslides$32K to the Town of Rowlesburg for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
Preston County has had 19 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 Rowlesburg after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Rowlesburg archive →Get ready for what Rowlesburg 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 Rowlesburg
Does Rowlesburg flood?
Flood insurance has paid 29 claims in Rowlesburg since 1985, $385K in all. 7 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Rowlesburg 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 Preston County, 10% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Rowlesburg?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Rowlesburg’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 Rowlesburg?
By FEMA money that reached Rowlesburg, Flooding, Severe Storms, and Landslides (2000): $32K to the Town of Rowlesburg for repairs.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Rowlesburg.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Rowlesburg’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.