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West Virginia · Preparedness Guide

Ready for what West Virginia actually throws at you.

Flash floods in mountain hollows, winter ice that isolates communities for weeks, chemical spill risk along the Kanawha Valley, and some of the most rugged terrain in the East.

About this guide

Built for West Virginia. Not everywhere.

West Virginia is almost entirely mountainous — and that geography shapes every hazard the state faces. Narrow river valleys and steep hollow communities flood with terrifying speed; the 2016 Greenbrier Valley floods killed 23 people and the 2001 Mingo County floods remain one of the state's worst disasters. Ice storms hit harder here than almost anywhere in the East — remote communities in McDowell, Wyoming, and Logan counties can be cut off for weeks. The Kanawha Valley industrial corridor carries one of the highest chemical spill risk profiles in the country — the 2014 MCHM spill contaminated the drinking water of 300,000 people for days. Preparation in WV is not optional; it is the difference between isolation and survival.

Local self-reliance starts with knowing your place.

Quick facts

Top hazards: Flash Flooding, Winter Ice Storms, Chemical Spills

WV has expanded Medicaid — adults up to 138% FPL may qualify

USDA hardiness zones: 5b (highest elevations) to 6b (river valleys / Eastern Panhandle)

Unemployment: up to $424 (up to $662 for highest wage class)/week for 26 weeks

Free or low-cost soil testing available through the state extension service

Seven topics, one state

What this guide covers.

Each section focuses on one question. Find what you need without wading through what you don't.

Get specific

Make it personal to your county.

Enter your ZIP code to see real-time weather alerts, drought conditions, FEMA disaster declarations, and county-level resources.

Next steps

Where do you want to go next?

Know your risks

See what's actually likely where you live.

Flood zones, hazard maps, and the WV risks that apply to your county.

Local Risk Readiness

Build the basics

Start with three days of self-reliance.

The universal first step — before you personalize, get the 72-hour foundation in place.

First 72 Hours