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Williamson, West Virginia; view looking down East 2nd AvePhoto: FloNight (Sydney Poore) and Russell Poore · CC BY-SA 4.0
D−Hazard risk
Natural hazards in Williamson · FEMA

On FEMA’s figures, Williamson faces more hazard damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Williamson gets a D− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns, #59 of 61 in West Virginia. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (97%). Flood insurance has paid 465 claims here since 1978.

River and rain flooding 97%Earthquakes 1%

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

more than 96%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade#59 of 61 in West Virginia
Hazard risk
D−#59 of 61
in West Virginia · higher than 96% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
River and rain flooding
97% of expected building damage
Flood claims
465
paid since 1978 · $12.8M
Flooded more than once
16
properties
Disasters paid out here
14
of 31 declared for Mingo County

What stands out about Williamson’s natural hazards

From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.

465 paid flood claims since 1978$12.8M in all; 16 properties flooded more than once. More per home than 99% of U.S. towns.Moved out of harm’s way5 flood-prone properties bought out and cleared with FEMA grants.Remembers 1984400 flood claims were paid for 1984 alone, the most of any year.
By hazard

What Williamson 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

97%of expected building damage
Well above average · in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 2 times a year in the area
Smaller shares here
 Earthquakes Strong wind Wildfire Hurricanes Tornadoes Hail Winter storms Ice storms Cold waves Heat waves Landslides Lightning
FEMA models no building damage here
Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity

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.

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.
Hazard risk grade

What’s behind Williamson’s grade

River and rain flooding is 97% of the building damage FEMA expects in Williamson, and Williamson’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.

Where Williamson sits
Williamson
Least damageMiddleMost damage

D− #59 of 61 in West Virginia; higher expected damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns (21,298).

All of Williamson’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.

What drives the damage to buildings
River and rain flooding97%Everything else3%

The typical West Virginia town has higher expected damage than 73% of U.S. towns; within the state, Williamson has more expected damage per building than 97% of West Virginia towns.

In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.2M a year in losses across Williamson: $3.0M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

Recent disaster.FEMA’s model looks at expected damage to the buildings standing today. After Severe Storm, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides in 2025, FEMA took 406 aid registrations from Williamson addresses (the town has 1,723 homes).
Shared tract.All of Williamson’s 3,083 residents (2020 census) live in one census tract. FEMA publishes its model by tract, so the rate and the hazard mix are the tract’s. The flood claims below are the town’s own.
A shared figure. The grade describes the whole tract, not each street in it, and FEMA’s model is an average year for today’s buildings, not a record: the claims below are the record.

How TownRatings grades hazard risk →

Flood insurance claims

Does Williamson flood? Yes: 465 flood claims since 1978

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Williamson, from FEMA’s records: 269.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 99% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
1978: 11 claims1979: 19 claims1980: 0 claims1981: 3 claims1982: 0 claims1983: 0 claims1984: 400 claims1985: 0 claims1986: 0 claims1987: 0 claims1988: 0 claims1989: 0 claims1990: 0 claims1991: 1 claim1992: 0 claims1993: 0 claims1994: 0 claims1995: 0 claims1996: 0 claims1997: 1 claim1998: 0 claims1999: 0 claims2000: 0 claims2001: 0 claims2002: 3 claims2003: 2 claims2004: 2 claims2005: 1 claim2006: 0 claims2007: 0 claims2008: 0 claims2009: 4 claims2010: 0 claims2011: 0 claims2012: 0 claims2013: 0 claims2014: 0 claims2015: 0 claims2016: 0 claims2017: 0 claims2018: 0 claims2019: 0 claims2020: 0 claims2021: 1 claim2022: 1 claim2023: 0 claims2024: 0 claims2025: 16 claims2026: 0 claims197919842025
19782026
Biggest named events
  • The February West Virginia Flooding16 claims · $1.5M
  • The Storm4 claims · $152K
465
paid claims since 1978
$12.8M
paid to owners
16
homes flooded more than once
$28K
average claim
Homes that flooded again and again
FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (0)Flooded 2+ times
of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
No community discount

Williamson isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Mingo County.
What’s been done with FEMA grants
5flood-prone properties bought out and cleared
Disasters

14 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Williamson

Disasters that paid out in Williamson itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Williamson), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.

  1. 2025Severe Storm, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides406 households applied for aid$4.4M aid approved$1.2M to the City of Williamson for repairs16 flood claims paid that year
  2. 2021Severe Storms and Flooding44 households applied for aid$189K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
  3. 2015Severe Winter Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$56K to the City of Williamson for repairs
  4. 2012Severe Storms and Straight-line Winds5 households applied for aid$308 aid approved
  5. 2010Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Landslides8 households applied for aid$18K aid approved
  6. 2009Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$2K to the City of Williamson for repairs
Show all 14
  1. 2009Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Landslides109 households applied for aid$198K aid approved$57K to the City of Williamson for repairs
  2. 2007Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$41K to the City of Williamson for repairs
  3. 2004Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides50 households applied for aid$110K aid approved
  4. 2004Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides30 households applied for aid$102K aid approved
  5. 2004Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides312 households applied for aid$1.1M aid approved$178K to the City of Williamson for repairs
  6. 2003Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides20 households applied for aid$17K aid approved
  7. 2003Severe Winter Storm, Record/near Record Snow, Heavy Rains, Flooding and Landslides36 households applied for aid$101K aid approved$27K to the City of Williamson for repairs
  8. 2002Severe Storms, Flooding and Landslides$80K to the City of Williamson for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in WilliamsonMingo County only

Mingo County has had 31 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 Mingo County, 2001–2001.

Were you here?

Old photos of Williamson after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.

Add to the Williamson archive →
Next door

Williamson and its neighbors

Williamson has the lowest expected damage per building of the 1 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.

South Williamson: not gradedChattaroy: not gradedSouth WilliamsonChattaroyWilliamson
Lowest fifthSecondMiddleFourthHighest fifth
TownHazard riskMostly (buildings)Flood claims
WilliamsonD−more damage than 96%river and rain flooding465
South Williamson—472 residents; we grade 1,000+
Chattaroy—467 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.

Be ready

Get ready for what Williamson faces

A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.

When the river rises
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Before you buy or rent
  • 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.
When a storm is coming
Forecast and alertsWeather →911, the nearest ERSafety →

Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.

Questions about natural hazards in Williamson

Is Williamson at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Williamson has higher expected damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns: D− for hazard risk, #59 of 61 in West Virginia. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (97%). 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 Williamson flood?

Flood insurance has paid 465 claims in Williamson since 1978, $12.8M in all, or 269.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 99% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 16 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from February West Virginia Flooding (16).

Is Williamson 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 Mingo County, 17% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 3.9% of all homes do.

How much is flood insurance in Williamson?

FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Williamson’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 Williamson?

By FEMA money that reached Williamson, Severe Storm, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (2025): 406 households applied for aid, $4.4M approved, and $1.2M to the City of Williamson for repairs. By flood claims, February West Virginia Flooding: 16 paid, $1.5M.

Is Williamson at risk from river and rain flooding?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (97%), and Williamson’s rate for it is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Williamson.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Williamson’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.