Bertie County, North Carolina Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · NC
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 66th
Bertie County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 66.4, 66th national percentile), driven primarily by hurricane and drought exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $17M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Bertie County at low composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 66.4 out of 100 — placing it in the 66th national percentile and below the national average for natural-disaster risk. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
Most of Bertie County's expected losses come from hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at High risk — $10M in expected annual loss and about 0.27 events per year; drought (extended dry periods that stress water supplies and agriculture) at Medium risk — $607K in expected annual loss and about 5.25 events per year; and winter weather (heavy snow, blizzards, and hazardous winter conditions) at Medium risk — $123K in expected annual loss and about 3.05 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $17M in expected annual loss for a population of 18K.
Beyond physical exposure, Bertie County has a very high social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a 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.
The county's disaster history tells the same story: Bertie County has received 28 federal disaster declarations since 1968, including 18 for hurricane events and 2 for tropical storm events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in January 2026.
Among 100 North Carolina counties, Bertie County ranks #59 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Hurricane | High | 0.27 / yr | $10M |
| Drought | Medium | 5.25 / yr | $607K |
| Winter Weather | Medium | 3.05 / yr | $123K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.46 / yr | $1M |
| Heat Wave | Low | 6.79 / yr | $391K |
| Hail | Low | 2.48 / yr | $174K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 0.75 / yr | $4M |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $152K |
| Coastal Flood | Low | 2.69 / yr | $28K |
| Lightning | Low | 47.68 / yr | $114K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 0.81 / yr | $251K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $14K |
| Ice Storm | Low | 0.64 / yr | $27K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 0.53 / yr | $324K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.10 / yr | $70 |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Disaster History
Bertie County has received 28 federal disaster declarations since 1968, most recently Severe Winter Storm in January 2026. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (18), Tropical Storm (2), Biological (2).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| January 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| September 2024 | Tropical Storm | Hurricane Helene |
| August 2024 | Tropical Storm | Tropical Storm Debby |
| October 2022 | Hurricane | Hurricane Ian |
| October 2020 | Hurricane | Hurricane Isaias |
| August 2020 | Hurricane | Hurricane Isaias |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| September 2019 | Hurricane | Hurricane Dorian |
| September 2018 | Hurricane | Hurricane Florence |
Showing the 10 most recent of 28 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Bertie County?
Bertie County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 66.4 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 66th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Bertie County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Hurricane (High, $10M EAL), Drought (Medium, $607K EAL), Winter Weather (Medium, $123K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Bertie County compare to other North Carolina counties?
Bertie County ranks #59 of 100 North Carolina counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Bertie County had?
FEMA records 28 federal disaster declarations for Bertie County since 1968, most often 18 for hurricane events and 2 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. Bertie County's $17M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.