Photo: Aaron F. Stone · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA puts Welch’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 95% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Welch gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns, #53 of 61 in West Virginia. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (96%). Flood insurance has paid 211 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 Welch’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Welch 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 Welch’s grade
River and rain flooding is 96% of the building damage FEMA expects in Welch, and Welch’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts.
D #53 of 61 in West Virginia; higher expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Welch’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, Welch has more expected damage per building than 87% of West Virginia towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.0M a year in losses across Welch: $2.6M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Welch flood? Yes: 211 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Welch, from FEMA’s records: 217.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 98% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The February West Virginia Flooding26 claims · $1.9M
- The Storm7 claims · $43K
- The April 2007 nor’easter1 claim · $2K
Welch isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: McDowell County.12 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Welch
Disasters that paid out in Welch itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Welch), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2025Severe Storm, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides326 households applied for aid$3.4M aid approved$843K to the City of Welch for repairs26 flood claims paid that year
- 2012Severe Storms and Straight-line Winds19 households applied for aid$5K aid approved$17K to the City of Welch for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Landslides241 households applied for aid$467K aid approved$36K to the City of Welch for repairs22 flood claims paid that year
- 2009Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$14K to the City of Welch for repairs
- 2009Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Landslides74 households applied for aid$145K aid approved$29K to the City of Welch for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$820 to the City of Welch for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
Show all 12
- 2004Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides46 households applied for aid$69K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
- 2003Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides74 households applied for aid$128K aid approved$38K to the City of Welch for repairs
- 2003Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides4 households applied for aid$4K aid approved
- 2003Severe Winter Storm, Record/near Record Snow, Heavy Rains, Flooding and Landslides23 households applied for aid$30K aid approved$14K to the City of Welch for repairs
- 2002Severe Storms, Flooding and Landslides$525K to the City of Welch for repairs68 flood claims paid that year
- 2001Severe Storms, Flooding and Landslides$134K to the City of Welch for repairs20 flood claims paid that year
McDowell 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.
Also 1 FEMA wildfire suppression grant (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in McDowell County, 2001–2001.
Old photos of Welch after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Welch archive →Get ready for what Welch 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 Welch
Is Welch at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Welch has higher expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #53 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.
Does Welch flood?
Flood insurance has paid 211 claims in Welch since 1978, $3.8M in all, or 217.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 98% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 30 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from February West Virginia Flooding (26).
Is Welch 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 McDowell County, 19% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 4.6% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Welch?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Welch’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 Welch?
By FEMA money that reached Welch, Severe Storm, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (2025): 326 households applied for aid, $3.4M approved, and $843K to the City of Welch for repairs. By flood claims, February West Virginia Flooding: 26 paid, $1.9M.
Is Welch at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (96%), and Welch’s rate for it is in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Welch.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Welch’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.