Carteret County
North Carolina — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
MediumComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 93th
Carteret County faces medium composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 93.5, 93th national percentile), driven primarily by hurricane and winter weather exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $129M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Hurricane | Very High | 0.46 / yr | $109M |
| Winter Weather | High | 2.16 / yr | $585K |
| Wildfire | Low | 0.00 / yr | $1M |
| Coastal Flood | High | 3.29 / yr | $4M |
| Lightning | Medium | 51.75 / yr | $655K |
| Ice Storm | Medium | 0.54 / yr | $257K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 6.82 / yr | $879K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 1.14 / yr | $10M |
| Strong Wind | Low | 0.81 / yr | $483K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.60 / yr | $989K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $162K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 0.38 / yr | $540K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.06 / yr | $260 |
| Drought | Very Low | 2.36 / yr | $14K |
| Hail | Very Low | 1.62 / yr | $79K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Carteret County?
Carteret County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 93.5 out of 100, placing it in the Medium category and the 93th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Carteret County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Hurricane (Very High, $109M EAL), Winter Weather (High, $585K EAL), Wildfire (Low, $1M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Carteret County compare to other North Carolina counties?
Carteret County ranks #7 of 100 North Carolina counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a medium rating.
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. Carteret County's $129M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.