Enter any address in Hancock County, West Virginia to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from heavy rainfall events is the dominant flood character in Hancock County. Recent examples include widespread flash flooding across the Ohio River Valley in April 2024, following several days of significant rainfall, and flash flooding in July 2023, which occurred after previous rainfall saturated the ground.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) data shows that properties in Zone A have experienced the most claims, with an average payout of $13,932 and an average water depth of 7.0 feet. Properties in Zone X also show substantial claims, averaging $18,659 with a 6.3-foot water depth. Homeowners in Zone A, Zone X, and those in areas with unknown flood risk should pay the most attention to potential flood hazards.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
17 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Hancock County, West Virginia has recorded 34 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 19 flash floods and 15 river or area floods. The county has received 18 federal disaster declarations, 4 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1972–2026)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Winter Storm | Winter Storm | Jan 23, 2026 |
| Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Flood | Apr 11, 2024 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Severe Storm | Apr 2, 2024 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Mud/Landslide | Feb 14, 2018 |
| Hurricane Sandy | Hurricane | Oct 29, 2012 |
| Severe Storms | Severe Storm | Jun 29, 2012 |
| Severe Winter Storms And Snowstorms | Snowstorm | Feb 5, 2010 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Hurricane | Aug 29, 2005 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Apr 11, 2024 | 394.00K |
| Flash Flood | Apr 2, 2024 | 1.00K |
| Flood | Apr 2, 2024 | 880.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 2, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 20, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 18, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jan 12, 2018 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 10, 2018 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Mar 4, 2015 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Apr 16, 2013 | 5.00K |
Flash Flood — Apr 11, 2024
A strong mid-level trough and an associated frontal zone crossed through the|Mid-South and took aim on the OH Valley. Strong forcing associated the energy aloft coupled with a gradually destabilizing boundary layer out ahead it set the stage for areas of locally heavy showers and thunderstorms for several hours and prompted dangerous flash flooding. A flash flood emergency was issued for portio...
Flash Flood — Apr 2, 2024
Several rounds of showers and thunderstorms prompted a widespread flash flood problems across the Ohio River Valley on April 2nd to April 3rd. The synoptic pattern across the CONUS was a slow moving and deep elongated trough over the Great Plains phasing with a ejecting trough over the Midwest that created an area of converging moisture over eastern Ohio and western Pennsylvania. Overall, over ...
Flood — Apr 2, 2024
Several rounds of showers and thunderstorms prompted a widespread flash flood problems across the Ohio River Valley on April 2nd to April 3rd. The synoptic pattern across the CONUS was a slow moving and deep elongated trough over the Great Plains phasing with a ejecting trough over the Midwest that created an area of converging moisture over eastern Ohio and western Pennsylvania. Overall, over ...
Flash Flood — Jul 2, 2023
Rainfall during the previous day, plus during the morning of July 2nd, kept the ground saturated. An early afternoon break in rainfall was followed by additional thunderstorm development in western and central Ohio by late afternoon. These storms took advantage of an environment containing 1500 J/kg of surface-based CAPE, along with marginal sufficient deep shear of 30 knots to create severe t...
Flash Flood — Jun 20, 2019
A quasi-stationary frontal boundary set up across Ohio and Pennsylvania on the 17th, and wavered about the region until it was kicked off to the east by a stronger frontal boundary late on the 20th. Flooding and flash flooding remained a concern through the period given an ideal setup for training storms, as well as efficient rainfall production associated with observed high PWATs and deeper w...
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Individual Claims (2.25M records analyzed).
FEMA assigns flood zone designations to areas in Hancock County, West Virginia:
AE High Risk — 1% annual chance of flooding. Insurance required.
VE Very High Risk — Coastal flooding with wave action.
X (Shaded) Moderate Risk — 500-year floodplain.
X Low Risk — Outside major floodplains.
Properties in Hancock County, West Virginia that are in FEMA-designated Special Flood Hazard Areas (zones A and V) with federally backed mortgages are required to carry flood insurance.
Even outside high-risk zones, flood insurance is recommended. From 2014 to 2024, nearly one-third of NFIP claims came from outside the high-risk Special Flood Hazard Area.
Visit FloodSmart.gov to find an agent and get a quote.