Enter any address in Roane County, West Virginia to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from heavy rainfall events is the primary flood concern in Roane County, WV. Over the last 30 years, NOAA Storm Events data shows 40 flash flood events and 34 flood events, resulting in 3 fatalities. Recent events include flooding on January 31, 2025, where creeks and streams overflowed their banks due to widespread rainfall, and on February 6, 2025, when precipitation combined with severe thunderstorms caused high water issues.
NFIP claims data indicates that properties in Zone A, which represents areas with a 1% annual chance of flooding, have experienced the most claims, with an average payout of $12,125 and an average water depth of 5.6 feet. However, properties in Zone X, though less frequent in claims, have seen significantly higher average payouts ($45,749) and deeper water depths (8.5 feet), suggesting potential for substantial damage even in areas with lower flood probabilities. Homeowners in low-lying areas, near creeks and streams, and those without a Base Flood Elevation (BFE) should pay particular attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
59 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Roane County, West Virginia has recorded 74 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 40 flash floods and 34 river or area floods. The county has received 26 federal disaster declarations, 7 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1993–2026)
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, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Flood | Aug 28, 2023 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Flood | Jun 22, 2016 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Severe Storm | Jul 10, 2015 |
| Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Flood | Apr 13, 2015 |
| Severe Winter Storm, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Severe Storm | Mar 3, 2015 |
| Chemical Spill | Chemical | Jan 9, 2014 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | Jan 31, 2025 | 0.15K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 14, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 13, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Feb 6, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Feb 13, 2024 | 0.00K (1 deaths) |
| Flash Flood | Apr 11, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Feb 17, 2023 | 0.25K |
| Flood | Feb 16, 2023 | 0.50K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 4, 2023 | 1.50K |
| Flood | Feb 24, 2022 | 1.50K |
Flood — Jan 31, 2025
An advancing low pressure system set forth ample amounts of lift and moisture to round out the month of January. Widespread rainfall first entered into the southwestern coalfields of West Virginia on the morning of January 31st, and continued to invade northeastward and up into the higher terrain of the state. Local creeks and streams quickly spilled out of their banks on that day in conjunctio...
Flash Flood — Jul 14, 2025
Several days of active weather took place across West Virginia from July 14th to the 17th in response to a cold front festering over the area. A warm, moist, and unstable environment in the midst of the front's residency conjured up daily chances for afternoon and evening showers and thunderstorms. While one instance of flooding took place on the front end of this active period, the predominant...
Flash Flood — Aug 13, 2025
Scattered showers and thunderstorms blossomed across the area on the 13th of August as a cold front slowly approached from the northwest. The front eventually reached the Ohio River around midnight and then proceeded southeast through West Virginia by the afternoon of the 14th. ||In addition to producing heavy downpours, thunderstorms began training across portions of southeast Ohio and southwe...
Flood — Feb 6, 2025
Showers first entered into West Virginia on the evening of February 5th as a disturbance skirted by to the south. Precipitation continued into the next day, in addition to a few severe thunderstorms that developed ahead of a cold front in the early afternoon. Strong wind gusts from storms caused numerous downed trees and power line damage across Boone and Lincoln Counties during the early after...
Flood — Feb 13, 2024
Precipitation spread northwest into the area on the afternoon and evening of February 12th due to an approaching low-pressure system. The bulk of precipitation fell across western and central West Virginia as the system moved overhead, with most locations receiving between one and two inches of rain during the night. ||Flooding developed around midnight, with multiple reports of high water span...
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 Roane 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 Roane 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.