Currituck County, North Carolina Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · NC
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 18th
Currituck County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 18.1, 18th national percentile), driven primarily by hurricane and winter weather exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $11M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Currituck County carries a very low composite natural disaster risk, with a National Risk Index score of 18.1 out of 100 — placing it in the 18th national percentile and among the lowest-risk counties in the country. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
Most of Currituck County's expected losses come from hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at Low risk — $3M in expected annual loss and about 0.29 events per year; winter weather (heavy snow, blizzards, and hazardous winter conditions) at Medium risk — $182K in expected annual loss and about 2.61 events per year; and lightning (electrical discharges from storms that ignite fires and cause casualties) at Medium risk — $494K in expected annual loss and about 40.56 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $11M in expected annual loss for a population of 28K.
Beyond physical exposure, Currituck County has a very low social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a very high community resilience rating (its capacity to prepare for and recover from disasters). A less vulnerable population paired with strong resilience helps the community absorb and recover from events.
The county's disaster history tells the same story: Currituck County has received 24 federal disaster declarations since 1988, including 17 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, Currituck County ranks #98 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Hurricane | Low | 0.29 / yr | $3M |
| Winter Weather | Medium | 2.61 / yr | $182K |
| Lightning | Medium | 40.56 / yr | $494K |
| Coastal Flood | Low | 3.22 / yr | $612K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $112K |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 6.32 / yr | $338K |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.59 / yr | $38K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 0.50 / yr | $5M |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $53K |
| Tornado | Very Low | 0.19 / yr | $439K |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 0.51 / yr | $298K |
| Drought | Very Low | 0.24 / yr | $3K |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | 0.54 / yr | $215K |
| Hail | Very Low | 1.23 / yr | $54K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.03 / yr | $43 |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Disaster History
Currituck County has received 24 federal disaster declarations since 1988, most recently Severe Winter Storm in January 2026. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (17), 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 |
| 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 |
| September 2018 | Hurricane | Hurricane Florence |
Showing the 10 most recent of 24 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Currituck County?
Currituck County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 18.1 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 18th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Currituck County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Hurricane (Low, $3M EAL), Winter Weather (Medium, $182K EAL), Lightning (Medium, $494K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Currituck County compare to other North Carolina counties?
Currituck County ranks #98 of 100 North Carolina counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Currituck County had?
FEMA records 24 federal disaster declarations for Currituck County since 1988, most often 17 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. Currituck County's $11M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.