West Virginia
West Virginia's narrow mountain hollows channel rainwater into devastating flash floods. The 2016 floods killed 23 people, including children. The state has more floods per capita than almost any other. The terrain that defines West Virginia is the same terrain that floods it.
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Know your region
Charleston, Beckley, Lewisburg, the Greenbrier Valley. The 2016 floods killed 23 people here. The Greenbrier River rose to historic levels. Hollow communities along creeks face repeated flooding. Mine subsidence adds instability to steep slopes.
Primary hazards: flash flooding, landslides, winter storms, severe storms
Elkins, Snowshoe, the Allegheny Highlands, Seneca Rocks. The heaviest snow in the state falls here. Rural mountain roads become impassable for days during winter storms. Flash floods in steep ravines develop during summer thunderstorms.
Primary hazards: winter storms, flash flooding, landslides, severe storms
Wheeling, Parkersburg, Morgantown, Huntington, the Ohio River corridor. The Ohio River floods after extended rain. Tornadoes strike in the wider valleys. Industrial facilities along the river add chemical release risk during flood events.
Primary hazards: flooding, tornadoes, severe storms, winter storms
Your hazard profile
Each links to a full guide with during-event protocol, recovery steps, and resources specific to WV.
The 2016 floods killed 23 people. West Virginia's narrow hollows channel water with devastating force. Communities along creeks face repeated flooding. Flash floods give minutes of warning, not hours.
Read the flash flooding guide →
Damaging winds, hail, and intense rain trigger flash flooding. Mountains enhance storm development. Fallen trees cause power outages across forested slopes.
Read the severe thunderstorms guide →
Allegheny Mountains receive heavy snow. Ice storms cause widespread outages. Rural mountain roads become impassable. Cold snaps bring dangerous temperatures.
Read the winter storms guide →
Steep terrain and coal mining history create significant slide risk. Heavy rain triggers slides on slopes and road cuts. Mine subsidence is an additional hazard.
Read the landslides guide →
Tornadoes occur in the Kanawha Valley and Eastern Panhandle. Mountains can mask tornado signatures on radar. Mountains do not provide reliable protection from tornadoes.
Read the tornadoes guide →
West Virginia resources
West Virginia Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. Coordinates disaster response and flood recovery programs.
West Virginia forecasts. Flash flood warnings, winter storm advisories, and severe weather alerts.
West Virginia's interactive flood risk mapping tool. Check your property's flood history and risk level.
Statewide referral service. Disaster recovery, energy assistance, and housing resources.
June 23, 2016
On June 23, 2016, a slow-moving thunderstorm complex dropped 8 to 10 inches of rain on southern West Virginia. Creeks that are normally ankle-deep rose 15 feet in an hour. The Greenbrier River exceeded its all-time record. Twenty-three people died, including several children. Entire communities in the hollows were wiped out.
West Virginia's terrain creates the lethality. The state is almost entirely mountainous. Communities are built in narrow valleys along creeks because that is where the flat ground is. When rain falls on steep slopes faster than the ground can absorb it, the water funnels into those same valleys where people live.
For every West Virginia household in a hollow or along a creek, the preparation is about speed. Flash floods here give minutes of warning. Know your evacuation route to high ground. Have a go-bag by the door during heavy rain events. Do not wait for official warnings to move. If the creek is rising fast, leave immediately. The 2016 flood proved that the terrain does not negotiate.