The state of West Virginia in particular is somewhat ignored and not considered as very unsafe. Some people who get to this region due to features like mountains and agriculture may be quick to assume that the crime rate can be high or that the area is dangerous. However, the real picture is that West Virginia occupies one of the leading positions in the ranking of safety of states by the results of the carried-out investigations. In this article, an analysis of crime rates, natural disasters, and traffic accidents as well as various measures of safety is given to give a full picture of safety in West Virginia.
Crime Rates
FBI Crime statistics indicate that West Virginia has been ranked among the states with the lowest incidence of violent and property crimes for more than ten consecutive years. West Virginia has been ranked among the best US states with the least rate of violent crimes, which include; aggravated assault, murder, rape, and robbery for the past 5 years and has only been defeated by Vermont in the list. Property crime which includes burglary, theft, and motor vehicle theft is also within the top 10 lowest rates in the country.
The overall crime rate for West Virginia is relatively low and at the local level, several cities and towns rank among the safest in the United States. For instance, the crime rates in Morgantown and Bridgeport are very low, as the crime indexes are 92% and 95% below the national average, respectively. This means that large urban areas such as Charleston, which is the state’s capital, still have relatively high levels of security with crime being 41% lower than the average in the United States. In other words, when one says that he lives in a West Virginia town then he or she is confident of security and free from disturbances.
Natural Disasters
This also holds when it comes to the assessment of safety in a state, which means that potential natural disasters are relevant as well. In this regard, West Virginia seems to be in a better standing than many coastal states that are likely to get hit by hurricanes, flooding, or forest fires.
WVA is not directly on the Atlantic coast and therefore, does not suffer the most severe impacts of most major hurricanes. It is also important to note that earthquakes are a rarity here, which saves it from destruction through the movement of the earth’s tectonic plates. Some features reduce the vulnerability to major flooding in most of the areas, these are the mountainous terrains. Thus, West Virginia has on average 1-2 major disaster or emergency declarations a year, while the coast states with the same population declared four to five major disasters in the same period. However, much as West Virginia is prone to tornadoes or winter storms, disasters occurring in the state are still less frequent compared to other surrounding states.
Traffic Fatalities
Another criterion employed in the assessment of risks to residents is the driving safety of a certain state. In the study conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the records show that West Virginia has registered a 37% reduction in traffic death occurrences from the year 2006 to the year 2019. The death toll has been reduced dramatically over the past two decades from major campaigns on issues such as drunk driving, texting while driving, and the use of seat belts.
Even in this regard, West Virginia continues to occupy one of the top 15 positions in terms of traffic fatalities and adjusted by the population density and number of miles traveled. Highways continue to twist and turn and we observe that the regions which are near the Appalachian towns have the highest fatality rates. This means that while there has been a year-on-year improvement in the safety of vehicles, driving remains one of the most dangerous activities in terms of safety risk in the state.
The Verdict on Safety
Looking at crime rates, natural calamities, vehicular safety, and other essential parameters, the statistics reveal that West Virginia is among the safest states in which to reside in the United States. Due to the absence of conflict and crime, towns and cities offer security, and central locations are shielded from violent storms or extensive wildfires. Of course, there is potential for traffic accidents or specific crimes like in all states. Still, West Virginia has rightfully earned such statistics due to the constantly low crime rates and disaster rates, which are reported time and again. The reader is made aware of all these hence new residents or visitors can explore the state with full confidence and without any worries.
Of course, there might be some expectations about threats in such a tough and rather isolated state; however, the real picture proves West Virginia is still one of the safest and most reasonable places for living for everyone including individuals and families. Merely ensure that when you are driving, especially through the serpentine roads in the mountains, you will be able to vouch for yourself that safety is indeed a pillar of the state.
