Cleveland County, North Carolina Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · NC
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 70th
Cleveland County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 70.0, 70th national percentile), driven primarily by ice storm and lightning exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $27M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Cleveland County at low composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 70.0 out of 100 — placing it in the 70th 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.
The county's risk is driven primarily by ice storm (freezing rain that coats surfaces in heavy, damaging ice) at High risk — $1M in expected annual loss and about 1.93 events per year; lightning (electrical discharges from storms that ignite fires and cause casualties) at High risk — $766K in expected annual loss and about 53.63 events per year; and earthquake (ground shaking from sudden movement along geologic faults) at Low risk — $2M in expected annual loss and about 0.00 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $27M in expected annual loss for a population of 99K.
Beyond physical exposure, Cleveland County has a medium 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). Both measures sit toward the lower end, indicating relatively modest population sensitivity.
History supports the rating: Cleveland County has received 20 federal disaster declarations since 1977, including 7 for hurricane events and 4 for snowstorm events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in January 2026.
Among 100 North Carolina counties, Cleveland County ranks #53 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Ice Storm | High | 1.93 / yr | $1M |
| Lightning | High | 53.63 / yr | $766K |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $2M |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.25 / yr | $4M |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 2.69 / yr | $1M |
| Riverine Flood | Medium | 0.57 / yr | $15M |
| Hurricane | Low | 0.05 / yr | $786K |
| Hail | Low | 5.61 / yr | $495K |
| Drought | Low | 31.16 / yr | $259K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 1.11 / yr | $442K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.54 / yr | $2K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 0.44 / yr | $950K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $26K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 5.83 / yr | $41K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Disaster History
Cleveland County has received 20 federal disaster declarations since 1977, most recently Severe Winter Storm in January 2026. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (7), Snowstorm (4), Tropical 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 |
| October 2022 | Hurricane | Hurricane Ian |
| August 2020 | Hurricane | Hurricane Isaias |
| May 2020 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 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 20 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Cleveland County?
Cleveland County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 70.0 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 70th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Cleveland County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Ice Storm (High, $1M EAL), Lightning (High, $766K EAL), Earthquake (Low, $2M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Cleveland County compare to other North Carolina counties?
Cleveland County ranks #53 of 100 North Carolina counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Cleveland County had?
FEMA records 20 federal disaster declarations for Cleveland County since 1977, most often 7 for hurricane events and 4 for snowstorm 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. Cleveland County's $27M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.