Gates County, North Carolina Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · NC
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 10th
Gates County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 10.5, 10th national percentile), driven primarily by hurricane and drought exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $5M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in Gates County is very low, with a National Risk Index score of 10.5 out of 100 — placing it in the 10th 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.
Risk here concentrates in hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at Low risk — $1M in expected annual loss and about 0.26 events per year; drought (extended dry periods that stress water supplies and agriculture) at Low risk — $213K in expected annual loss and about 2.66 events per year; and strong wind (damaging straight-line winds outside of tornadoes and hurricanes) at Medium risk — $605K in expected annual loss and about 0.76 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $5M in expected annual loss for a population of 10K.
Beyond physical exposure, Gates County has a medium social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a very 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: Gates County has received 22 federal disaster declarations since 1984, including 14 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, Gates County ranks #99 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Hurricane | Low | 0.26 / yr | $1M |
| Drought | Low | 2.66 / yr | $213K |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 0.76 / yr | $605K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 3.48 / yr | $69K |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 3.63 / yr | $19K |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 6.85 / yr | $132K |
| Lightning | Low | 46.12 / yr | $99K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $59K |
| Tornado | Very Low | 0.20 / yr | $277K |
| Hail | Very Low | 2.15 / yr | $76K |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.73 / yr | $14K |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 0.53 / yr | $147K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 0.46 / yr | $2M |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $4K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.05 / yr | $7 |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Disaster History
Gates County has received 22 federal disaster declarations since 1984, most recently Severe Winter Storm in January 2026. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (14), 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 |
| September 2019 | Hurricane | Hurricane Dorian |
| September 2018 | Hurricane | Hurricane Florence |
| October 2016 | Hurricane | Hurricane Matthew |
Showing the 10 most recent of 22 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Gates County?
Gates County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 10.5 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 10th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Gates County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Hurricane (Low, $1M EAL), Drought (Low, $213K EAL), Strong Wind (Medium, $605K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Gates County compare to other North Carolina counties?
Gates County ranks #99 of 100 North Carolina counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Gates County had?
FEMA records 22 federal disaster declarations for Gates County since 1984, most often 14 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. Gates County's $5M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.