Photo: Snoopywv · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Vienna faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Vienna gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns, #20 of 61 in West Virginia. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (94%). Flood insurance has paid 44 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 Vienna’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Vienna 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 Vienna’s grade
River and rain flooding is 94% of the building damage FEMA expects in Vienna, and Vienna’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 78% of U.S. census tracts.
C+ #20 of 61 in West Virginia; higher expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Vienna’s residents live in 5 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, Vienna has less expected damage per building than 68% of West Virginia towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.5M a year in losses across Vienna: $3.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Vienna flood? Sometimes: 44 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Vienna, from FEMA’s records: 8.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 71% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Ivan9 claims · $183K
Vienna isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Wood County.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Vienna
Disasters that paid out in Vienna itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Vienna), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides5 households applied for aid$12K aid approved
- 2012Severe Storms and Straight-line Winds9 households applied for aid$25K to the City of Vienna for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2004Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides30 households applied for aid$30K aid approved9 flood claims paid that year
Wood County has had 14 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 Vienna after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Vienna archive →Vienna and its neighbors
Vienna 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vienna | C+more damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 44 |
| Parkersburg | Cmore damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 125 |
| North Hills | — | 926 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
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 Vienna 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 Vienna
Is Vienna at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Vienna has higher expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #20 of 61 in West Virginia. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (94%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Vienna flood?
Flood insurance has paid 44 claims in Vienna since 1978, $290K in all, or 8.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 71% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 4 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Ivan (9).
Is Vienna 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 Wood 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 Vienna?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Vienna’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 Vienna?
By FEMA money that reached Vienna, Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides (2004): 30 households applied for aid, $30K approved. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Ivan: 9 paid, $183K.
Is Vienna at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (94%), and Vienna’s rate for it is higher than 78% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Vienna.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Vienna’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.