Alleghany County, North Carolina Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · NC
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 35th
Alleghany County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 34.7, 35th national percentile), driven primarily by landslide and drought exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $7M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Alleghany County carries a very low composite natural disaster risk, with a National Risk Index score of 34.7 out of 100 — placing it in the 35th national percentile and among the lowest-risk counties in the country. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
Risk here concentrates in landslide (downhill movement of rock, soil, and debris on unstable slopes) at Medium risk — $34K in expected annual loss and about 0.69 events per year; drought (extended dry periods that stress water supplies and agriculture) at Medium risk — $669K in expected annual loss and about 15.42 events per year; and ice storm (freezing rain that coats surfaces in heavy, damaging ice) at Medium risk — $253K in expected annual loss and about 0.78 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $7M in expected annual loss for a population of 11K.
Beyond physical exposure, Alleghany County has a very high social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a very low community resilience rating (its capacity to prepare for and recover from disasters). That combination — a more vulnerable population with limited resilience — can amplify the human cost of any given event.
History supports the rating: Alleghany County has received 20 federal disaster declarations since 1989, including 9 for hurricane events and 3 for tropical storm events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in January 2026.
Among 100 North Carolina counties, Alleghany County ranks #91 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Landslide | Medium | 0.69 / yr | $34K |
| Drought | Medium | 15.42 / yr | $669K |
| Ice Storm | Medium | 0.78 / yr | $253K |
| Cold Wave | Medium | 4.58 / yr | $2M |
| Hurricane | Low | 0.03 / yr | $112K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $22K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $115K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 0.93 / yr | $3M |
| Lightning | Low | 47.55 / yr | $93K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.06 / yr | $257K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 2.68 / yr | $137K |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 12.47 / yr | $10K |
| Hail | Very Low | 4.33 / yr | $37K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Disaster History
Alleghany County has received 20 federal disaster declarations since 1989, most recently Severe Winter Storm in January 2026. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (9), Tropical Storm (3), Severe Storm (2).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| January 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| September 2024 | Tropical Storm | Tropical Storm Helene |
| September 2024 | Tropical Storm | Hurricane Helene |
| August 2024 | Tropical Storm | Tropical Storm Debby |
| October 2022 | Hurricane | Hurricane Ian |
| March 2021 | Severe Storm | Tropical Storm Eta |
| August 2020 | Hurricane | Hurricane Isaias |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| September 2019 | Hurricane | Hurricane Dorian |
Showing the 10 most recent of 20 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Alleghany County?
Alleghany County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 34.7 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 35th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Alleghany County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Landslide (Medium, $34K EAL), Drought (Medium, $669K EAL), Ice Storm (Medium, $253K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Alleghany County compare to other North Carolina counties?
Alleghany County ranks #91 of 100 North Carolina counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Alleghany County had?
FEMA records 20 federal disaster declarations for Alleghany County since 1989, most often 9 for hurricane events and 3 for tropical storm events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm, declared in January 2026.
What does Expected Annual Loss (EAL) mean?
EAL is FEMA's estimate of average annual dollar losses from natural hazards, calculated from historical event data and exposure models. Alleghany County's $7M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.