Lenoir County
North Carolina — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
MediumComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 85th
Lenoir County faces medium composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 84.6, 85th national percentile), driven primarily by winter weather and hurricane exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $36M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Winter Weather | High | 3.42 / yr | $500K |
| Hurricane | High | 0.31 / yr | $15M |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.31 / yr | $4M |
| Riverine Flood | Medium | 1.07 / yr | $13M |
| Heat Wave | Low | 8.05 / yr | $820K |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 1.30 / yr | $767K |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $679K |
| Hail | Low | 3.70 / yr | $415K |
| Lightning | Medium | 52.63 / yr | $360K |
| Drought | Medium | 7.63 / yr | $326K |
| Ice Storm | Medium | 0.77 / yr | $119K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 0.42 / yr | $596K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $12K |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $2K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.06 / yr | $64 |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Lenoir County?
Lenoir County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 84.6 out of 100, placing it in the Medium category and the 85th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Lenoir County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Winter Weather (High, $500K EAL), Hurricane (High, $15M EAL), Tornado (Medium, $4M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Lenoir County compare to other North Carolina counties?
Lenoir County ranks #28 of 100 North Carolina counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a medium rating.
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. Lenoir County's $36M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.