Photo: Tim Kiser (w:User:Malepheasant) · CC BY-SA 2.5FEMA puts Williamstown’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 65% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Williamstown gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns, #25 of 61 in West Virginia. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (93%). Flood insurance has paid 52 claims here since 1979.
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 Williamstown 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 Williamstown’s grade
River and rain flooding is 93% of the building damage FEMA expects in Williamstown, and Williamstown’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 82% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 2%, at a rate in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts.
C #25 of 61 in West Virginia; higher expected damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Williamstown’s residents live in 2 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, Williamstown has less expected damage per building than 60% of West Virginia towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.2M a year in losses across Williamstown: $1.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Williamstown flood? Sometimes: 52 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Williamstown, from FEMA’s records: 32.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 89% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Ivan9 claims · $243K
Williamstown 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.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Williamstown
Disasters that paid out in Williamstown itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Williamstown), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2012Severe Storms and Straight-line Winds6 households applied for aid$3K aid approved
- 2004Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides38 households applied for aid$91K aid approved14 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 Williamstown after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Williamstown archive →Williamstown and its neighbors
Williamstown 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Williamstown | Cmore damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 52 |
| Marietta | C−more damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | 604 |
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 Williamstown 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 Williamstown
Is Williamstown at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Williamstown has higher expected damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #25 of 61 in West Virginia. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (93%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Williamstown flood?
Flood insurance has paid 52 claims in Williamstown since 1979, $866K in all, or 32.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 89% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 10 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Ivan (9).
Is Williamstown 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 Williamstown?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Williamstown’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 Williamstown?
By FEMA money that reached Williamstown, Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides (2004): 38 households applied for aid, $91K approved. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Ivan: 9 paid, $243K.
Is Williamstown at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (93%), and Williamstown’s rate for it is higher than 82% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Williamstown.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Williamstown’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.