West Virginia hurricane guide¶
West Virginia is inland, so the hurricane danger here comes from the remnants of tropical storms: heavy rain, flash floods, river floods, and landslides in steep valleys. Hurricane Isabel in 2003 and Hurricane Sandy in 2012 both led to federal disaster declarations in the state. The West Virginia Emergency Management Division (WVEMD) supports county emergency management offices, and each county runs its own alerts and shelters. Check your county page first.
Checked on October 5, 2026
Every phone number and web address on this page was checked against official sources on that date. Details can change, especially during a storm. Always follow instructions from West Virginia Emergency Management Division. In a life threatening emergency, call 911.
Counties¶
Choose your county. Each county page has its emergency numbers, evacuation zones, and shelters, and lists its cities and towns.
More places are on the way. Until yours is listed, see the official sources page or call 211.
Emergency and information numbers¶
| Service | Number | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency | 911 | Police, fire, and ambulance. Call only when someone's life or property is in danger. |
| West Virginia Emergency Management Division | 304-558-5380 | State office line. Not for emergencies. |
| Road and traffic conditions (WV511) | 511 | Road closures and conditions. Also available on the WV511 website and mobile app. |
| 211 West Virginia | 211 | Free help finding services and disaster information. Also reachable at 1-833-848-9905. |
Official alerts and information¶
- Ready WV eNews Signup: State preparedness and disaster recovery news by email. Local emergency alerts come from your county, so also sign up on your county page. Website.
Statewide resources¶
- West Virginia Emergency Management Division: State emergency management agency. Lists local emergency management contact information and the state watch center. Website.
- Ready WV: State preparedness and disaster recovery news. Website.
- National Weather Service Charleston, WV: Forecasts, watches, and warnings for central and southern West Virginia. Website.
- National Weather Service Sterling, VA (Baltimore/Washington): Forecasts, watches, and warnings for the eastern panhandle and Pendleton County. Website.
- National Weather Service Pittsburgh: Forecasts, watches, and warnings for Tucker County and northern West Virginia. Website.
- National Hurricane Center: Tracks tropical storms. Their remnants can bring flooding rain to West Virginia. Website.
- WV511: Road conditions and closures. Dial 511 or use the mobile app. Website.
Evacuation centers¶
Open only when announced
Evacuation centers open only when officials announce them, and not every center opens for every storm. Check the official list of open centers before you leave home. Bring your own bedding, food, water, and medicines.
Shelters in West Virginia are opened by county emergency management and the Red Cross only when officials announce them. Do not go to a site until your county says it is open. Find your county's alerts and shelter news on your county page.
Power, water and debris¶
- Appalachian Power: Report an outage or a safety hazard. Assume every downed line is live and stay away. Phone: 800-956-4237. Website.
- Mon Power and Potomac Edison (FirstEnergy): Also 1-888-LIGHTSS. Call 911 if you see a downed power line and stay at least 30 feet away. Phone: 888-544-4877. Website.
Related guides¶
- Should I evacuate?
- What to expect at a hurricane shelter
- Hurricane supply list
- After a hurricane: the first 24 hours
- Insurance claims and disaster aid
Sources¶
Checked on October 5, 2026. If a number or address here is wrong, please tell us at Keith@KMyers.me.
- https://emd.wv.gov/
- https://www.wv511.org/
- https://wv211.org/
- https://ready.wv.gov/
- https://www.weather.gov/rlx/
- https://api.weather.gov/zones/county/WVC071
- https://api.weather.gov/zones/county/WVC093
- https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/
- https://www.appalachianpower.com/outages/
- https://www.firstenergycorp.com/outages_help.html