Natural Disaster Risk in Buckhannon

Natural Hazard Profile: Buckhannon, West Virginia

Buckhannon is a city of approximately 18,689 residents in Upshur County, in the interior eastern United States. The area experiences cold winters, warm summers, and mountainous terrain that intensifies flooding, with flash flooding and winter storms shaping the pattern of natural hazards that residents encounter. Understanding the local risk profile is essential for anyone living in, moving to, or owning property in Buckhannon.

According to FEMA's National Risk Index, Buckhannon carries an overall risk score of 4.9/10, placing it in the moderate category. Slope instability and debris flows are the primary natural hazard, driven by a combination of local geology, precipitation intensity, and terrain that creates susceptibility to failure. The area also faces notable exposure to avalanche and hurricane.

Buckhannon's risk score, near the 5.0/10 state average and near the U.S. national average of 4.5/10. Of the 18 hazard categories tracked by FEMA for Upshur County, the highest-scoring are landslide, avalanche, and hurricane. These scores reflect county-level data and represent the baseline risk that all communities in the county share.

With a moderate risk rating, Buckhannon residents are well-served by maintaining standard preparedness practices — an emergency supply kit, awareness of local hazard seasonality, and insurance that covers the top local risks. Periodic review of coverage for landslide is recommended.