Enter any address in Summers County, West Virginia to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from intense rainfall events is the dominant flood character in Summers County, WV. Over the past 30 years, NOAA Storm Events data shows 21 recorded flash flood events and 10 flood events. For example, a thunderstorm on May 15, 2024, dropped an estimated 1 to 1.5 inches of rain in Hinton within 30 minutes. Another significant event on February 15, 2025, brought heavy moisture that contributed to both flash flooding and general flooding across the area.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data indicates that properties in Zone A have experienced the most claims, with an average payout of $18,856 for water depths averaging 5.9 feet. However, properties in Zone X_UNSHADED have seen fewer claims but with a substantially higher average payout of $23,334 and an average water depth of 19.5 feet. Homeowners in Zone A, as well as those in less frequently claimed but potentially high-impact zones like X_UNSHADED, should pay close attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
15 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Summers County, West Virginia has recorded 31 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 21 flash floods and 10 river or area floods. The county has received 24 federal disaster declarations, 6 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1967–2026)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Winter Storm | Winter Storm | Jan 23, 2026 |
| Severe Storm, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Severe Storm | Feb 15, 2025 |
| 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, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Flood | Apr 13, 2015 |
| Severe Winter Storm, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Severe Storm | Mar 3, 2015 |
| Hurricane Sandy | Hurricane | Oct 29, 2012 |
| Severe Storms | Severe Storm | Jun 29, 2012 |
| Severe Storms And Straight-line Winds | Severe Storm | Jun 29, 2012 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | Jan 31, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Feb 15, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Feb 15, 2025 | 100.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 15, 2024 | 10.00K |
| Flood | Mar 1, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 21, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 18, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jan 19, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 27, 2018 | 5.00K |
| Flood | May 5, 2018 | 0.00K |
Flood — Jan 31, 2025
A deep low pressure system moved from the Four-Corners region east across the Gulf Coast states. This resulted in deep moisture flow riding a southwesterly 50-knot low level jet from the Gulf through the central Appalachians and the upper Ohio River Valley beginning early on the morning of the 31st, with precipitable water values rapidly increasing into the 1.1 to 1.2 inch range by sunrise acro...
Flood — Feb 15, 2025
A deep upper level trough was observed exiting the southern Rockies during the morning of February 15th, with southwesterly windflow ahead of the trough allowing for a fetch of deep moisture from the western Gulf of America. This moisture pooled along a warm front situated across from Kentucky into southwest Virginia, where precipitable water values increased from 0.6 to 0.7 inches at 7 am that...
Flash Flood — Feb 15, 2025
A deep upper level trough was observed exiting the southern Rockies during the morning of February 15th, with southwesterly windflow ahead of the trough allowing for a fetch of deep moisture from the western Gulf of America. This moisture pooled along a warm front situated across from Kentucky into southwest Virginia, where precipitable water values increased from 0.6 to 0.7 inches at 7 am that...
Flash Flood — May 15, 2024
A thunderstorm produced an intense downpour in the town of Hinton with an estimated 1 to 1.5 inches falling within a 30 minute period, which could be as high as a 50-year Average Recurrence Interval per NOAA Atlas 14 Point Precipitation Frequency estimates.
Flood — Mar 1, 2021
Multiple waves of low pressure passing along a cold front approaching from near the Ohio River resulted in several rounds of prolonged and, at times, heavy rain across northern and western portions of Greenbrier County. In the 72-hour period ending 7 am on March 1st, the northwestern half of the county had received between 2.5 to locally 4 inches of rainfall from shower and thunderstorm activi...
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 Summers 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 Summers 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.