Faber Double-Crib Barn · Photo: Jud McCranie · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Sissonville faces more hazard damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Sissonville gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns, #41 of 61 in West Virginia. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (96%). FEMA’s files show no paid flood insurance claims here.
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 Sissonville 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 Sissonville’s grade
River and rain flooding is 96% of the building damage FEMA expects in Sissonville, and Sissonville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts.
D #41 of 61 in West Virginia; higher expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Sissonville’s residents live in 3 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical West Virginia town has higher expected damage than 73% of U.S. towns; within the state, Sissonville has more expected damage per building than 67% of West Virginia towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.7M a year in losses across Sissonville: $1.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Sissonville flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Sissonville. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Sissonville isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Kanawha County.9 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Sissonville
Disasters that paid out in Sissonville itself (aid to households or repair grants to Sissonville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides2 households applied for aid$4K aid approved
- 2024Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides11 households applied for aid$44K aid approved
- 2016Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides8 households applied for aid$16K aid approved
- 2010Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Landslides1 households applied for aid$15K aid approved
- 2004Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides51 households applied for aid$241K aid approved
- 2004Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides8 households applied for aid$21K aid approved
Show all 9
- 2003Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides7 households applied for aid$11K aid approved
- 2003Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides10 households applied for aid$34K aid approved
- 2003Severe Winter Storm, Record/near Record Snow, Heavy Rains, Flooding and Landslides5 households applied for aid$12K aid approved
Kanawha County has had 26 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.
Also 1 FEMA wildfire suppression grant (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Kanawha County, 2001–2001.
Old photos of Sissonville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Sissonville archive →Get ready for what Sissonville 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 Sissonville
Is Sissonville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Sissonville has higher expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #41 of 61 in West Virginia. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (96%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Sissonville 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 Kanawha County, 10% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Sissonville?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Sissonville’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 Sissonville?
By FEMA money that reached Sissonville, Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides (2004): 51 households applied for aid, $241K approved.
Is Sissonville at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (96%), and Sissonville’s rate for it is in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Sissonville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Sissonville’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.