For many Americans, the word “flooding” conjures images of violent storm surges and inundated coastal towns. But in fact, riverine and flash flooding, particularly in inland and mountainous states, does more damage each year than hurricanes.

After severe flash floods devastated parts of West Virginia in 2016 and 2022, the state began working with The Pew Charitable Trusts (and other partners) to develop systems that can help the state better prepare for, respond to, and recover from floods.

Understanding West Virginia’s risk factors, responses, and continuing challenges can help other inland and mountain states build flood resiliency and be better prepared for a future of stronger, more frequent storms.

West Virginia is one of the nation’s most flood-prone states. From 2010 through 2021, the state experienced more than 1,600 floods.¹ Grayscale map of West Virginia showing the counties.

True to its nickname, the Mountain State has hundreds of named mountains, separated by hills, narrow “hollers,” and valleys.²

West Virginia’s terrain is also defined by 54,000 miles of streams and rivers.³

High-intensity rainfall overwhelms small creeks in flash floods.

And rainfall and saturated soils can cause rivers to swell into flood plains.

All 55 West Virginia counties, and all 32 of the state’s watersheds, are at risk of flooding.⁴

But a closer look shows that the risk is concentrated in certain areas, driven by the state’s dramatic topography, and that people in different areas of the state face starkly different risks.

7% of West Virginians, nearly 125,000 Americans, live in special flood hazard areas (SFHAs)—places that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has identified as having a 1% annual chance of flooding.⁵

That’s about a 26% chance of flooding at least once over the life of a 30-year mortgage.⁶

Further, since 2007, nearly half of West Virginia’s floods have been flash floods, causing almost two-thirds of flood-related fatalities and property damage in those years.⁷

But in some parts of the state, far more of the population is at risk: More than 1 in 10 residents of the 14 West Virginia counties highlighted in yellow reside in FEMA-mapped SFHAs.⁸

And in Boone County, highlighted in red, it’s more than 1 in 5.⁹

But FEMA’s data by itself does not capture all West Virginians who are at risk.

West Virginia—and other states—need additional data sets to get the full picture. The Flood Factor tool—which examines property-level risk, land cover, changes in precipitation, and flash and riverine flood risk—shows that more than 189,000 West Virginia properties not included in the FEMA-mapped flood plain are also at risk.¹⁰

Mountainous topography, historical development patterns, and social and economic vulnerability all contribute to or exacerbate flood risk across the state.

West Virginia’s dramatic geography divides much of the state’s population into small rural communities, which have historically been concentrated along rivers and creeks.

Across West Virginia, as in states throughout the country, communities that are economically least equipped to deal with flood risk have the most concentrated risk.

In 71% of the state, social and economic factors—such as underemployment, low income, an aging population, and a lack of educational attainment—converge with flood threats, reducing people’s ability to prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters.¹¹

For instance, 19% of West Virginians who live in SFHAs also live below the poverty line.¹²

JUNE 2016

In 2016, West Virginia experienced historic flooding that left 23 dead, hundreds homeless, and thousands without power.¹³

In Kanawha County, the Elk River rose to over 33 feet, inundating homes, businesses, and critical buildings such as the fire station and elementary school in the small town of Clendenin.¹⁴

Hundreds of families were forced from their homes, and some were still dealing with the aftermath five years later.¹⁵

In Greenbrier County, which is in a deep valley and where almost 19% of the population lives below the poverty line, 10 inches of rain fell in less than 12 hours, causing the Greenbrier River and small creeks to swell beyond their banks.¹⁶

The Greenbrier flooding submerged entire towns, killing 15 people and destroying thousands of homes and businesses; road repairs alone cost an estimated $50 million.¹⁷

2022

In May 2022, a flash flood warning was issued for Huntington, West Virginia, that the National Weather Service called a dangerous and life-threatening situation.¹⁸

Nearly 4.5 inches of rain fell in a short time, causing flooding in more than 200 homes and killing one resident.¹⁹

This event highlights the effects of the state’s changing climate: Over the past 50 years, hourly rainfall intensity in Huntington has increased by 28%, driving up the risk of flash floods.²⁰

Experts expect the trend of increasingly heavy rainfall to continue in the future, and flood risk grows as the chance of more extreme and frequent rainfall rises.²¹ All of this means that West Virginia and other inland states can expect to face increasingly severe events.

After the 2016 floods, state and local leaders realized that they needed a comprehensive understanding of who is at risk now and in the future.²²

So, the General Assembly passed legislation to create the State Resiliency Office (SRO), promote community-driven flood mitigation projects, and update the state’s flood protection plan, that was first developed in 2004.²³

Historically, the state has relied for its planning on risk maps that in some cases are more than 10 years old, and it failed to account for stronger, more frequent storms.²⁴

Flood Factor’s more comprehensive source shows that, in all West Virginia counties but one, the number of properties at risk within the 100-year flood plain will grow from 2020 to 2050.²⁵ Map of West Virginia showing the estimated change in at-risk properties over 30 years, represented by seven shades of mauve, from pale pink to dark mauve. Mouse over the map for each county’s percentage.

So, in 2023, the state Legislature took further action, unanimously passing Senate Bill 677, which mandates development of a new Flood Resiliency Plan by June 2024 and establishes the Flood Resiliency Trust Fund to support implementation of the plan.²⁶

These actions will help the SRO work across multiple state agencies and with local leaders and experts to identify community-led and risk-informed solutions to flooding.

With a continued commitment and ongoing investments to tackle these challenges, the Mountain State can remain wild and wonderful, become prepared and resilient, and serve as a model showing that with strong state leadership and local collaboration, inland states can be more flood-ready.