Calhoun County, West Virginia
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 54013 · population 6,220 · 279 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 310 records for Calhoun County, West Virginia from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 280 days; the most frequent are winter storm records (67 records). 174 of them are forecast-zone records, which the National Weather Service files once per zone: a county covered by several zones receives each one, so a single storm can add several records on the same day. The deadliest single record is the March 2, 1997 flood, filed for the forecast zone Calhoun, which covers the county: 1 death and $368,000 in damage in 2025 dollars. FEMA has issued 24 declarations naming the county since 1967, 22 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Winter Storm” on January 24, 2026.
The record, 1950 to 2026
Storm records filed for the county each year (2026 to June 30, 2026). Before 1996 NOAA recorded only tornadoes (from 1950), thunderstorm wind and hail (from 1955).
- recorded, no damage figure
- under $100,000
- $100,000 or more
- $1 million or more
- $10 million or more, or a death
- $100 million or more, or 10 deaths
- a year's colour: its recorded damage or deaths
- a year with a death
- 1955: wind and hail recorded from 1955
- 1996: all 48 event types from 1996
- Storm records
- 310on 280 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 13 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $8.3Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- FEMA declarations
- 24latest 2026
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records through June 30, 2026 (file revision 20260918); damage converted to 2025 dollars with the BLS CPI-U. Search the record at NCEI. BLS consumer price index.
What hazards hit Calhoun County most?
The most frequent records are winter storm records: 67 since 1996. 70% of its winter storm records since 1996 fell in January and February. The rank column places the county among West Virginia's counties by days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land over each hazard's complete period.
| Hazard | Records | Days | First, last | Killed | Injured | Damage | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter storms | 67 | 66 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $676K | 21 of 53 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 64 | 54 | 1969-2026 | 0 | 0 | $1.7M | 33 of 53 |
| Floods | 48 | 44 | 1997-2025 | 1 | 0 | $5.7M | 20 of 53 |
| Hail | 34 | 27 | 1989-2026 | 0 | 3 | $10K | 23 of 53 |
| Extreme cold | 31 | 31 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $56K | 12 of 53 |
| High wind and dust storms | 21 | 21 | 1999-2026 | 0 | 0 | $119K | 21 of 53 |
| Heat | 19 | 19 | 1996-2011 | 0 | 0 | – | 10 of 53 |
| Drought | 18 | 18 | 1997-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 8 of 53 |
| Heavy rain | 8 | 8 | 1997-2002 | 0 | 0 | – | 11 of 53 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (county and forecast-zone records attributed to the county; a zone record shows its own totals on each county it covers). Days: dates with at least one record of the hazard in the county. Ranks: days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land (Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer), since 1950 for tornadoes, 1955 for hail and thunderstorm wind, 1996 for the rest.
When was the last damaging storm in Calhoun County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 14, 2026 thunderstorm wind ($1,500 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-14 | Thunderstorm WindRichardson, Calhoun County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2026-05-13 | HailMillstone, Calhoun County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-01 | DroughtCalhoun County · forecast zone Calhoun | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-01 | DroughtCalhoun County · forecast zone Calhoun | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-16 | Heavy SnowCalhoun County · forecast zone Calhoun | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-13 | Strong WindCalhoun County · forecast zone Calhoun | 40 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $500 |
| 2026-02-22 | Winter WeatherCalhoun County · forecast zone Calhoun | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-19 | HailGrantsville, Calhoun County | 1.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-02-19 | HailGrantsville, Calhoun County | 0.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-02-01 | Cold/Wind ChillCalhoun County · forecast zone Calhoun | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-24 | Winter StormCalhoun County · forecast zone Calhoun | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-20 | Cold/Wind ChillCalhoun County · forecast zone Calhoun | 0 | 0 | – |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database; every record of 2025-2026 is listed, earlier ones when they caused deaths, injuries or $250,000 of damage (2025 dollars), and every tornado.
The deadliest and costliest records
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997-03-02 | FloodCalhoun County · forecast zone Calhoun | 1 | 0 | $368K | |
| 1992-06-24 | HailCalhoun County | 1.75 in hail | 0 | 3 | – |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005-08-29 | Flash FloodSouth Portion, Calhoun County | 0 | 0 | $1.4M | |
| 1997-03-02 | FloodCalhoun County · forecast zone Calhoun | 1 | 0 | $368K | |
| 2009-05-04 | FloodChloe, Calhoun County | 0 | 0 | $344K | |
| 2000-02-19 | FloodCalhoun County · forecast zone Calhoun | 0 | 0 | $257K | |
| 2025-08-24 | Thunderstorm WindFreed, Calhoun County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $10K |
| 2025-12-19 | Strong WindCalhoun County · forecast zone Calhoun | 40 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $8K |
| 2025-08-24 | Thunderstorm WindWhite Pine, Calhoun County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $3K |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: deaths and injuries direct and indirect; damage is property plus crops as estimated by the National Weather Service, converted to 2025 dollars.
Is it getting more frequent?
Records per decade for Calhoun County's most frequent hazards. Counts rose everywhere after 1996, when NOAA began recording every event type, so compare decades within a hazard's complete period only (the shaded cells come before it).
| Hazard | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 6 | 12 | 24 | 25 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 12 | 13 | 24 | 12 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 6 | 19 | 9 | 14 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 16 | 6 | 5 |
| Extreme cold | – | – | – | – | 12 | 11 | 6 | 2 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 1 | 8 | 4 | 8 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
70% of its winter storm records since 1996 fell in January and February. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 44 · Feb 44 · Mar 27 · Apr 19 · May 30 · Jun 41 · Jul 24 · Aug 20 · Sep 15 · Oct 10 · Nov 12 · Dec 24 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Calhoun County
FEMA's register lists 24 declarations that include Calhoun County: 18 major disasters, 6 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (9) and flood (6).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-24 | EM-3639 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2024-01-30 | DR-4756 | Flood | Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2020-04-03 | DR-4517 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3450 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2018-04-17 | DR-4359 | Mud/Landslide | Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2015-05-21 | DR-4221 | Flood | Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2012-10-29 | EM-3358 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2012-07-23 | DR-4071 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Straight-Line Winds |
| 2012-06-30 | EM-3345 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms |
| 2010-03-02 | DR-1881 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm |
| 2009-05-15 | DR-1838 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Landslides |
| 2008-06-19 | DR-1769 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Mudslides, and |
| 2005-09-05 | EM-3221 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2004-06-07 | DR-1522 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides |
| 2003-11-21 | DR-1500 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides |
| 2003-03-14 | DR-1455 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm, Record/Near Record Snow, Heavy Rains, Flooding and Landslides |
| 2001-06-03 | DR-1378 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding and Landslides |
| 2000-02-28 | DR-1319 | Flood | Flooding, Severe Storms, and Landslides |
| 1998-07-01 | DR-1229 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 1997-03-07 | DR-1168 | Flood | Heavy & Wind Driven Rain, High Winds,Flooding,Slides |
| 1996-01-13 | DR-1084 | Snowstorm | Blizzard of 96 (Severe Snow Storm) |
| 1993-03-17 | EM-3109 | Snowstorm | Severe Snowfall & Winter Storm |
| 1985-11-07 | DR-753 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1967-03-13 | DR-224 | Flood | Flooding |
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2), declarations through October 2, 2026; one declaration is counted once however many areas it names. OpenFEMA dataset page.
How many floods has Calhoun County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 48 flood or flash flood records for Calhoun County from 1997 to 2025, on 44 days, with 1 death. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Calhoun County ranks 808th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
| Storm | Began | Records | Deaths in the county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Katrina | 2005-08-29 | 1 | 0 |
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $2.4 million on 264 claims filed in Calhoun County; the most in one year was 56 in 1985. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1978: 26 · 1985: 56 · 1989: 9 · 1991: 1 · 1992: 1 · 1994: 13 · 1995: 2 · 1996: 3 · 1997: 54 · 1998: 2 · 2000: 22 · 2001: 1 · 2002: 2 · 2003: 46 · 2005: 6 · 2008: 2 · 2009: 10 · 2012: 2 · 2013: 1 · 2018: 4 · 2022: 1; the other years: 0.
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims, as of September 8, 2026; claims by year of loss, payments in the dollars of the year paid. OpenFEMA dataset page.
FEMA's modeled risk for Calhoun County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Calhoun County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $4.9 million. These are FEMA's model estimates of future loss from 18 hazards, not a count of what happened; they can differ from the record above.
| Hazard | Risk rating | Expected annual loss | Modeled frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Landslide | Relatively Moderate | $47K | about once a year (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | $4.4M | 1.5 a year (modeled) |
| Hurricane | Very Low | $33K | once in about 47 years (modeled) |
| Drought | Very Low | $21K | 7.5 modeled event-days a year |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | $19K | once in about 12 years (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Very Low | $33K | once in about 1,333 years (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | $45K | 3.2 modeled event-days a year |
| Lightning | Very Low | $50K | 47 a year (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Calhoun County
Source: U.S. Census Bureau county adjacency file; NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records since 1950. The Census Bureau's adjacency file.
Next
- Winter storms in West VirginiaThe state's winter storm records, by county, year and month
- The West Virginia recordEvery hazard in the state, its deadliest events and its federal declarations
- FEMA's risk rating for each hazard in Calhoun CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Calhoun County's FEMA declarations (CSV)24 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis