Jackson County, North Carolina Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · NC
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 80th
Jackson County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 80.5, 80th national percentile), driven primarily by landslide and cold wave exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $29M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Jackson County at low composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 80.5 out of 100 — placing it in the 80th 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 Jackson County's expected losses come from landslide (downhill movement of rock, soil, and debris on unstable slopes) at Medium risk — $162K in expected annual loss and about 1.84 events per year; cold wave (prolonged spells of dangerously low temperatures) at High risk — $9M in expected annual loss and about 3.47 events per year; and lightning (electrical discharges from storms that ignite fires and cause casualties) at High risk — $1M in expected annual loss and about 58.44 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $29M in expected annual loss for a population of 43K.
Beyond physical exposure, Jackson County has a very 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.
The federal record bears this out: Jackson County has received 19 federal disaster declarations since 1973, including 8 for hurricane events and 3 for flood events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in January 2026.
Among 100 North Carolina counties, Jackson County ranks #36 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Landslide | Medium | 1.84 / yr | $162K |
| Cold Wave | High | 3.47 / yr | $9M |
| Lightning | High | 58.44 / yr | $1M |
| Riverine Flood | Medium | 1.14 / yr | $15M |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $729K |
| Ice Storm | Medium | 0.54 / yr | $175K |
| Hurricane | Low | 0.03 / yr | $284K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.19 / yr | $1M |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 3.05 / yr | $476K |
| Drought | Low | 32.63 / yr | $138K |
| Hail | Low | 4.13 / yr | $205K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $25K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 13.51 / yr | $33K |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| 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 |
Disaster History
Jackson County has received 19 federal disaster declarations since 1973, most recently Severe Winter Storm in January 2026. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (8), Flood (3), Tropical Storm (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 |
| 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 19 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Jackson County?
Jackson County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 80.5 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 80th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Jackson County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Landslide (Medium, $162K EAL), Cold Wave (High, $9M EAL), Lightning (High, $1M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Jackson County compare to other North Carolina counties?
Jackson County ranks #36 of 100 North Carolina counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Jackson County had?
FEMA records 19 federal disaster declarations for Jackson County since 1973, most often 8 for hurricane events and 3 for flood 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. Jackson County's $29M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.