FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Shannondale as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Shannondale gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns, #19 of 61 in West Virginia. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (90%). Flood insurance has paid 6 claims here since 1996.
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 Shannondale 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 Shannondale’s grade
River and rain flooding is 90% of the building damage FEMA expects in Shannondale, and Shannondale’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 76% of U.S. census tracts.
C+ #19 of 61 in West Virginia; higher expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Shannondale’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
The typical West Virginia town has higher expected damage than 73% of U.S. towns; within the state, Shannondale has less expected damage per building than 70% of West Virginia towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $723K a year in losses across Shannondale: $576K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Shannondale flood? Rarely: 6 flood claims since 1996
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Shannondale, from FEMA’s records: 3.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 50% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Fran3 claims · $67K
Shannondale isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Jefferson County.The storms Shannondale remembers
None of the 15 disasters declared for Jefferson County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Shannondale itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 19966 flood claims paidThe year of Hurricane Fran and Associated Heavy Rains,flooding Highwind, declared for Jefferson County
Jefferson County has had 15 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often winter storms, then severe storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Shannondale after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Shannondale archive →Get ready for what Shannondale 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 Shannondale
Is Shannondale at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Shannondale has higher expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #19 of 61 in West Virginia. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (90%). The figures are for the one census tract the town shares with its neighbors. This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Shannondale flood?
Flood insurance has paid 6 claims in Shannondale since 1996, $109K in all, or 3.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 50% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Hurricane Fran (3).
Is Shannondale 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 Jefferson County, 24% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.8% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Shannondale?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Shannondale’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 Shannondale?
By flood claims, Hurricane Fran: 3 paid, $67K.
Is Shannondale at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (90%), and Shannondale’s rate for it is higher than 76% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Shannondale.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Shannondale’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.