Haywood County, North Carolina Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · NC
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 77th
Haywood County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 77.2, 77th national percentile), driven primarily by landslide and cold wave exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $32M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Haywood County at low composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 77.2 out of 100 — placing it in the 77th national percentile and below the national average for natural-disaster risk. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
Most of Haywood County's expected losses come from landslide (downhill movement of rock, soil, and debris on unstable slopes) at High risk — $545K in expected annual loss and about 2.02 events per year; cold wave (prolonged spells of dangerously low temperatures) at High risk — $7M in expected annual loss and about 3.85 events per year; and riverine flood (rivers and streams overflowing their banks after heavy rain or snowmelt) at Medium risk — $20M in expected annual loss and about 1.07 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $32M in expected annual loss for a population of 62K.
Beyond physical exposure, Haywood County has a high social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a medium 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.
The county's disaster history tells the same story: Haywood County has received 21 federal disaster declarations since 1973, including 8 for hurricane events and 3 for snowstorm events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in January 2026.
Among 100 North Carolina counties, Haywood County ranks #38 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Landslide | High | 2.02 / yr | $545K |
| Cold Wave | High | 3.85 / yr | $7M |
| Riverine Flood | Medium | 1.07 / yr | $20M |
| Lightning | Medium | 55.35 / yr | $576K |
| Ice Storm | Medium | 0.60 / yr | $271K |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $759K |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 3.24 / yr | $846K |
| Winter Weather | Medium | 22.65 / yr | $83K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $65K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.02 / yr | $138K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.18 / yr | $1M |
| Hail | Low | 3.82 / yr | $249K |
| Drought | Low | 27.85 / yr | $84K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.00 / 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
Haywood County has received 21 federal disaster declarations since 1973, most recently Severe Winter Storm in January 2026. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (8), Snowstorm (3), Flood (3).
| 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 |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| September 2019 | Hurricane | Hurricane Dorian |
| September 2018 | Hurricane | Hurricane Florence |
Showing the 10 most recent of 21 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Haywood County?
Haywood County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 77.2 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 77th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Haywood County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Landslide (High, $545K EAL), Cold Wave (High, $7M EAL), Riverine Flood (Medium, $20M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Haywood County compare to other North Carolina counties?
Haywood County ranks #38 of 100 North Carolina counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Haywood County had?
FEMA records 21 federal disaster declarations for Haywood County since 1973, most often 8 for hurricane events and 3 for snowstorm 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. Haywood County's $32M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.