McDowell, VA
McDowell, VA's wildfire risk, in USFS's own numbers
McDowell sits at the 79th percentile nationally for wildfire risk to structures — well above the national norm for wildfire risk — per USFS's Wildfire Risk to Communities model, built from its 157 counted buildings, not vegetation cover alone. (Source: USFS's Wildfire Risk to Communities methodology.)
USFS's separate burn-probability score — fire likelihood alone, before counting what's built there — puts McDowell at the 77th percentile, close to its 79th-percentile risk score.
McDowell's building exposure, zone by zone
100% of McDowell's 157 buildings sit in USFS's Direct exposure zone, roughly 157 structures close enough to burnable vegetation for flame contact, not just embers — 0% fall in the Indirect, ember-only zone and 0% are Minimal.
How McDowell compares
McDowell's risk sits at a similar level relative to Virginia (92nd percentile statewide) as it does nationally (79th) — this place isn't unusual for its own state either way. Among the 31,521 US communities USFS scores, McDowell ranks 6,791 for wildfire risk (1 is highest) and 26,591 by building count (1 is largest). Within Virginia alone, it ranks 58 of 681 places by risk. See the full county-by-county picture for Virginia on its state page.
McDowell and the insurance market
At the 79th percentile nationally, McDowell carries the high rating that has pushed some carriers to limit new business in similarly-scored places elsewhere in the country. Worth comparing quotes rather than assuming last year's renewal terms still apply.
What would actually reduce this score
Because Direct exposure dominates in McDowell (100%), the highest-leverage fix is defensible space, not roofing or vents alone — covered in the home-hardening guide.
Where McDowell's figures come from
The methodology guide shows exactly how USFS turned 157 counted buildings into the percentiles shown above for McDowell. The exposure-zones guide covers what McDowell's dominant direct exposure actually means, with real examples from across the dataset.