Brunswick County, North Carolina Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · NC
HighComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 96th
Brunswick County faces high composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 95.8, 96th national percentile), driven primarily by hurricane and wildfire exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $153M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in Brunswick County is high, with a National Risk Index score of 95.8 out of 100 — placing it in the 96th national percentile and in the upper tier of natural-disaster risk nationally. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
Risk here concentrates in hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at Very High risk — $111M in expected annual loss and about 0.37 events per year; wildfire (uncontrolled fires that spread across wildland and into communities) at Medium risk — $2M in expected annual loss and about 0.00 events per year; and winter weather (heavy snow, blizzards, and hazardous winter conditions) at High risk — $395K in expected annual loss and about 1.57 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $153M in expected annual loss for a population of 136K.
Beyond physical exposure, Brunswick County has a high social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a high community resilience rating (its capacity to prepare for and recover from disasters). Higher vulnerability is partly offset by strong community resilience and recovery capacity.
The county's disaster history tells the same story: Brunswick County has received 35 federal disaster declarations since 1984, including 25 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, Brunswick County ranks #3 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Hurricane | Very High | 0.37 / yr | $111M |
| Wildfire | Medium | 0.00 / yr | $2M |
| Winter Weather | High | 1.57 / yr | $395K |
| Lightning | High | 56.78 / yr | $1M |
| Coastal Flood | High | 3.68 / yr | $4M |
| Riverine Flood | Medium | 2.11 / yr | $24M |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.46 / yr | $5M |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 8.21 / yr | $2M |
| Ice Storm | High | 0.58 / yr | $431K |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $2M |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 1.74 / yr | $814K |
| Cold Wave | Medium | 0.47 / yr | $1M |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.13 / yr | $259 |
| Drought | Very Low | 6.41 / yr | $16K |
| Hail | Very Low | 2.20 / yr | $70K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Disaster History
Brunswick County has received 35 federal disaster declarations since 1984, most recently Severe Winter Storm in January 2026. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (25), Tropical Storm (3), Biological (2).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| January 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| May 2025 | Fire | Sunset Drive Fire |
| October 2024 | Tropical Storm | Potential Tropical Cyclone Eight |
| 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 |
Showing the 10 most recent of 35 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Brunswick County?
Brunswick County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 95.8 out of 100, placing it in the High category and the 96th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Brunswick County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Hurricane (Very High, $111M EAL), Wildfire (Medium, $2M EAL), Winter Weather (High, $395K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Brunswick County compare to other North Carolina counties?
Brunswick County ranks #3 of 100 North Carolina counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a high rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Brunswick County had?
FEMA records 35 federal disaster declarations for Brunswick County since 1984, most often 25 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. Brunswick County's $153M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.