Graham County, North Carolina Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · NC
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 20th
Graham County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 20.1, 20th national percentile), driven primarily by landslide and cold wave exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $6M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Graham County at very low composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 20.1 out of 100 — placing it in the 20th 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 landslide (downhill movement of rock, soil, and debris on unstable slopes) at Medium risk — $79K in expected annual loss and about 1.37 events per year; cold wave (prolonged spells of dangerously low temperatures) at Low risk — $1M in expected annual loss and about 3.58 events per year; and earthquake (ground shaking from sudden movement along geologic faults) at Very Low risk — $225K in expected annual loss and about 0.00 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $6M in expected annual loss for a population of 8K.
Beyond physical exposure, Graham County has a high 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). That combination — a more vulnerable population with limited resilience — can amplify the human cost of any given event.
History supports the rating: Graham County has received 17 federal disaster declarations since 1974, including 7 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, Graham County ranks #97 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Landslide | Medium | 1.37 / yr | $79K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 3.58 / yr | $1M |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $225K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $35K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.02 / yr | $28K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 0.36 / yr | $3M |
| Lightning | Low | 57.71 / yr | $74K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 4.00 / yr | $197K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.11 / yr | $311K |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 20.59 / yr | $13K |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.26 / yr | $12K |
| Hail | Very Low | 3.42 / yr | $27K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Drought | Very Low | 29.72 / yr | $0 |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Disaster History
Graham County has received 17 federal disaster declarations since 1974, most recently Severe Winter Storm in January 2026. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (7), Tropical Storm (2), Biological (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 |
| September 2021 | Hurricane | Remnants of Tropical Storm Fred |
| 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 |
Showing the 10 most recent of 17 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Graham County?
Graham County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 20.1 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 20th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Graham County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Landslide (Medium, $79K EAL), Cold Wave (Low, $1M EAL), Earthquake (Very Low, $225K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Graham County compare to other North Carolina counties?
Graham County ranks #97 of 100 North Carolina counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Graham County had?
FEMA records 17 federal disaster declarations for Graham County since 1974, most often 7 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. Graham County's $6M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.