These are the most flood vulnerable counties in West Virginia

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (WBOY) — West Virginia has experienced several devastating floods in the past few years, but which counties are most vulnerable?

According to a recent study by LawnStarter, out of the more than 3,000 counties in the U.S., 15 in West Virginia are the top 400 for being vulnerable to flooding, and four West Virginia counties were in the top 100.

At 48th in the nation, McDowell County was deemed West Virginia’s most flood vulnerable county largely because of its low preparedness score. Close behind was Mingo County at 50th in the country, largely because of its preparedness level and vulnerable population.

As far as actual risk of flooding, Kanawha County, had the highest risk in West Virginia, but it scored as less vulnerable than some other counties because of its better preparedness and population vulnerability ranks.

The full list of West Virginia’s most flood vulnerable counties, according to the ranking, is as follows. The second number shows how that county ranked in the nation’s most vulnerable flood counties.

1. McDowell County – 48th
2. Mingo County – 50th
3. Kanawha County – 67th
4. Logan County – 70th
5. Lincoln County – 126th
6. Greenbrier County – 166th
7. Raleigh County – 181st
8. Ohio County – 195th
9. Wetzel County – 197th
10. Wyoming County – 201st
11. Mercer County – 226th
12. Roane County – 230th
13. Hardy County – 247th
14. Nicholas County – 312th
15. Boone County – 376th

The ranking was based on each county’s risk of flooding, level of preparedness, the economic impact of a flood and how vulnerable its population is to floods.

Just because a county is not at high risk for flooding does not mean that it can’t flood. Not a single county in the north central region of West Virginia was in the 1,000 most vulnerable counties, but Marion County recently experienced devastating flash flooding that led to a disaster declaration from the Trump administration.

According to the ranking, four out of the five most vulnerable counties in the U.S. are in New Jersey.