Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0FEMA puts Shinnston’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 89% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Shinnston gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (96%). Flood insurance has paid 32 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 Shinnston’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Shinnston 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 Shinnston’s grade
River and rain flooding is 96% of the building damage FEMA expects in Shinnston, and Shinnston’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts.
D higher expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Shinnston’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.4M a year in losses across Shinnston: $1.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Shinnston flood? Sometimes: 32 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Shinnston, from FEMA’s records: 30.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 88% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Shinnston isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Harrison County.9 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Shinnston
Disasters that paid out in Shinnston itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Shinnston), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2023Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides2 households applied for aid$12K aid approved
- 2017Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides10 households applied for aid$37K aid approved
- 2012Severe Storms and Straight-line Winds$5K to the City of Shinnston for repairs
- 2012Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Mudslides, and Landslides18 households applied for aid$60K aid approved
- 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Mudslides, and119 households applied for aid$712K aid approved$34K to the City of Shinnston for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2003Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides16 households applied for aid$57K aid approved
Show all 9
- 2003Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides3 households applied for aid$648 aid approved
- 2003Severe Winter Storm, Record/near Record Snow, Heavy Rains, Flooding and Landslides4 households applied for aid$7K to the City of Shinnston for repairs
- 2000Flooding, Severe Storms, and Landslides$13K to the City of Shinnston for repairs5 flood claims paid that year
Harrison County has had 20 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 Shinnston after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Shinnston archive →Shinnston and its neighbors
Shinnston has the lowest expected damage per building of the 2 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shinnston | Dmore damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 32 |
| Enterprise | Dmore damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | — |
Hazard risk = FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade; the map is shaded by fifths of the same scale. Flood claims = paid federal flood insurance claims on record.
Get ready for what Shinnston 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 Shinnston
Is Shinnston at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Shinnston has higher expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (96%). 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 Shinnston flood?
Flood insurance has paid 32 claims in Shinnston since 1978, $163K in all, or 30.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 88% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 6 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Shinnston 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 Harrison County, 10% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.6% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Shinnston?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Shinnston’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 Shinnston?
By FEMA money that reached Shinnston, Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Mudslides, and (2008): 119 households applied for aid, $712K approved, and $34K to the City of Shinnston for repairs.
Is Shinnston at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (96%), and Shinnston’s rate for it is in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Shinnston.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Shinnston’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.