Storms, floods and disasters in Smithfield
Smithfield isn’t graded for hazard risk: Smithfield has 113 residents; we grade towns of 1,000 or more. Flood insurance has paid 3 claims here since 2004.
What Smithfield 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 Smithfield flood? Rarely: 3 flood claims since 2004
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Smithfield, from FEMA’s records.
- Tropical Storm Ivan1 claim · $4K
Smithfield isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Wetzel County.5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Smithfield
Disasters that paid out in Smithfield itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Smithfield), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides2 households applied for aid$14K aid approved
- 2017Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides22 households applied for aid$46K aid approved
- 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Mudslides, and9 households applied for aid$14K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
- 2004Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides13 households applied for aid$26K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
- 2003Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides19 households applied for aid$89K aid approved
Wetzel County has had 22 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 Smithfield after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Smithfield archive →Get ready for what Smithfield 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 Smithfield
Does Smithfield flood?
Flood insurance has paid 3 claims in Smithfield since 2004, $51K in all. 1 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Ivan (1).
Is Smithfield 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 Wetzel County, 8% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.6% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Smithfield?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Smithfield’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 Smithfield?
By FEMA money that reached Smithfield, Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides (2003): 19 households applied for aid, $89K approved. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Ivan: 1 paid, $4K.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Smithfield.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Smithfield’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.