Forsyth County
North Carolina — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
MediumComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 92th
Forsyth County faces medium composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 91.5, 92th national percentile), driven primarily by ice storm and riverine flood exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $104M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Ice Storm | Very High | 2.12 / yr | $3M |
| Riverine Flood | High | 1.57 / yr | $72M |
| Winter Weather | High | 7.79 / yr | $454K |
| Tornado | High | 0.14 / yr | $8M |
| Cold Wave | High | 0.68 / yr | $7M |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $4M |
| Lightning | High | 48.26 / yr | $1M |
| Hurricane | Medium | 0.09 / yr | $5M |
| Hail | Medium | 4.85 / yr | $1M |
| Strong Wind | High | 2.58 / yr | $2M |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 1.79 / yr | $2M |
| Landslide | Low | 0.54 / yr | $7K |
| Drought | Low | 19.60 / yr | $187K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $20K |
| 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 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Forsyth County?
Forsyth County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 91.5 out of 100, placing it in the Medium category and the 92th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Forsyth County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Ice Storm (Very High, $3M EAL), Riverine Flood (High, $72M EAL), Winter Weather (High, $454K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Forsyth County compare to other North Carolina counties?
Forsyth County ranks #9 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. Forsyth County's $104M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.