Enter any address in Wayne County, West Virginia to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from heavy rainfall is the primary flood concern in Wayne County, WV. Over the past 30 years, NOAA Storm Events data shows 54 recorded flash flood events and 49 flood events, resulting in four reported fatalities. Recent examples include flooding on February 8, 2025, attributed to persistent rainfall bands, and on February 15, 2025, following a low-pressure system and warm front that also brought thunderstorms.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data indicates that properties in Zone A have experienced the most claims, with an average payout of $8,843 and an average water depth of 2.0 feet. Zone X, though having fewer claims, shows a significantly higher average payout of $13,988, with Zone X_UNSHADED showing an average water depth of 5.4 feet in its 10 claims. Homeowners in Zone A, as well as those in Zone X_UNSHADED, should pay particular attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
82 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Wayne County, West Virginia has recorded 103 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 54 flash floods and 49 river or area floods. The county has received 33 federal disaster declarations, 9 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 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Severe Storm | Apr 2, 2024 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Flood | Feb 27, 2021 |
| Severe Winter Storms | Severe Ice Storm | Feb 10, 2021 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Mud/Landslide | Feb 14, 2018 |
| Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Flood | Jun 22, 2016 |
| Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Severe Storm | Apr 3, 2015 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | Jan 31, 2025 | 0.25K |
| Flood | Jan 31, 2025 | 0.15K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 24, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 20, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Feb 16, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Feb 15, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Feb 15, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Feb 8, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Feb 6, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Feb 6, 2025 | 0.00K |
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 — Sep 24, 2025
Showers and thunderstorms spread across the state as a cold front approached from the northwest on September 24th. Following a brief lull in the evening, activity redeveloped as the front approached the Ohio River late that night and then continued east across West Virginia on the 25th. Although the front exited the area by the evening of the 25th, scattered showers continued into the night due...
Flash Flood — Jul 20, 2025
A stalled cold front settling over West Virginia set forth multiple days of active weather around the area from July 17th to the 21st. The boundary eventually slid north as a warm front on the 19th of July while a disturbance passed across the Great Lakes region and took aim for New England. A secondary cold front approached from the north and then sank down through the middle Ohio Valley and C...
Flood — Feb 16, 2025
Light precipitation started to arrive on the evening of February 14th due to an approaching low pressure system, with more substantial rain spreading across the area overnight into the 15th as a warm front approached from the south. This promoted a brief instance of thunderstorms on the morning of February 15th, with damaging winds knocking down trees and power lines to parts of the state. Whil...
Flood — Feb 15, 2025
Light precipitation started to arrive on the evening of February 14th due to an approaching low pressure system, with more substantial rain spreading across the area overnight into the 15th as a warm front approached from the south. This promoted a brief instance of thunderstorms on the morning of February 15th, with damaging winds knocking down trees and power lines to parts of the state. Whil...
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 Wayne 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 Wayne 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.