Craven County, North Carolina Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · NC
MediumComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 94th
Craven County faces medium composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 93.6, 94th national percentile), driven primarily by hurricane and winter weather exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $118M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in Craven County is medium, with a National Risk Index score of 93.6 out of 100 — placing it in the 94th national percentile and near the national midpoint for natural-disaster risk. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
Most of Craven County's expected losses come from hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at Very High risk — $92M in expected annual loss and about 0.37 events per year; winter weather (heavy snow, blizzards, and hazardous winter conditions) at Very High risk — $987K in expected annual loss and about 3.15 events per year; and lightning (electrical discharges from storms that ignite fires and cause casualties) at High risk — $1M in expected annual loss and about 53.82 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $118M in expected annual loss for a population of 100K.
Beyond physical exposure, Craven 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: Craven County has received 32 federal disaster declarations since 1968, including 23 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, Craven County ranks #6 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Hurricane | Very High | 0.37 / yr | $92M |
| Winter Weather | Very High | 3.15 / yr | $987K |
| Lightning | High | 53.82 / yr | $1M |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.53 / yr | $5M |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 8.79 / yr | $2M |
| Wildfire | Low | 0.00 / yr | $492K |
| Riverine Flood | Medium | 0.93 / yr | $14M |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 1.04 / yr | $919K |
| Ice Storm | Medium | 0.73 / yr | $203K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $344K |
| Coastal Flood | Low | 0.73 / yr | $211K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 0.43 / yr | $865K |
| Drought | Low | 3.99 / yr | $128K |
| Hail | Low | 2.56 / yr | $218K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.10 / yr | $320 |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Disaster History
Craven County has received 32 federal disaster declarations since 1968, most recently Severe Winter Storm in January 2026. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (23), 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 |
| October 2019 | Hurricane | Hurricane Dorian |
| September 2019 | Hurricane | Hurricane Dorian |
Showing the 10 most recent of 32 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Craven County?
Craven County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 93.6 out of 100, placing it in the Medium category and the 94th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Craven County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Hurricane (Very High, $92M EAL), Winter Weather (Very High, $987K EAL), Lightning (High, $1M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Craven County compare to other North Carolina counties?
Craven County ranks #6 of 100 North Carolina counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a medium rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Craven County had?
FEMA records 32 federal disaster declarations for Craven County since 1968, most often 23 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. Craven County's $118M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.