Hyde County, North Carolina Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · NC
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 66th
Hyde County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 66.4, 66th national percentile), driven primarily by hurricane and coastal flood exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $16M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Hyde County carries a low composite natural disaster risk, with a National Risk Index score of 66.4 out of 100 — placing it in the 66th 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.
The county's risk is driven primarily by hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at High risk — $12M in expected annual loss and about 0.41 events per year; coastal flood (seawater inundation from storm surge, high tides, and rising sea levels) at High risk — $2M in expected annual loss and about 1.66 events per year; and wildfire (uncontrolled fires that spread across wildland and into communities) at Low risk — $156K in expected annual loss and about 0.00 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $16M in expected annual loss for a population of 5K.
Beyond physical exposure, Hyde County has a very 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 federal record bears this out: Hyde County has received 32 federal disaster declarations since 1988, including 24 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, Hyde County ranks #60 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Hurricane | High | 0.41 / yr | $12M |
| Coastal Flood | High | 1.66 / yr | $2M |
| Wildfire | Low | 0.00 / yr | $156K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 3.02 / yr | $48K |
| Drought | Low | 2.22 / yr | $100K |
| Lightning | Low | 49.97 / yr | $76K |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 8.37 / yr | $83K |
| Tornado | Very Low | 0.65 / yr | $167K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $16K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 0.67 / yr | $94K |
| Hail | Very Low | 1.35 / yr | $36K |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 0.42 / yr | $97K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 0.25 / yr | $956K |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.34 / yr | $4K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.06 / yr | $1 |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Disaster History
Hyde County has received 32 federal disaster declarations since 1988, most recently Severe Winter Storm in January 2026. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (24), 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 |
| October 2020 | Hurricane | Hurricane Isaias |
| 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 |
Showing the 10 most recent of 32 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Hyde County?
Hyde County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 66.4 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 66th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Hyde County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Hurricane (High, $12M EAL), Coastal Flood (High, $2M EAL), Wildfire (Low, $156K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Hyde County compare to other North Carolina counties?
Hyde County ranks #60 of 100 North Carolina counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Hyde County had?
FEMA records 32 federal disaster declarations for Hyde County since 1988, most often 24 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. Hyde County's $16M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.