Montgomery County, North Carolina Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · NC
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 49th
Montgomery County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 49.0, 49th national percentile), driven primarily by hurricane and ice storm exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $12M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Montgomery County at low composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 49.0 out of 100 — placing it in the 49th 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.
Risk here concentrates in hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at Medium risk — $2M in expected annual loss and about 0.13 events per year; ice storm (freezing rain that coats surfaces in heavy, damaging ice) at Medium risk — $253K in expected annual loss and about 1.88 events per year; and tornado (violently rotating columns of air capable of catastrophic local damage) at Medium risk — $2M in expected annual loss and about 0.22 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $12M in expected annual loss for a population of 26K.
Beyond physical exposure, Montgomery 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.
The county's disaster history tells the same story: Montgomery County has received 24 federal disaster declarations since 1977, including 13 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, Montgomery County ranks #78 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Hurricane | Medium | 0.13 / yr | $2M |
| Ice Storm | Medium | 1.88 / yr | $253K |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.22 / yr | $2M |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 1.18 / yr | $6M |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $262K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.58 / yr | $1K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 4.63 / yr | $234K |
| Drought | Low | 18.27 / yr | $77K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $26K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 1.93 / yr | $349K |
| Lightning | Low | 49.76 / yr | $112K |
| Hail | Low | 4.33 / yr | $121K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 4.84 / yr | $26K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 0.47 / yr | $333K |
| 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
Montgomery County has received 24 federal disaster declarations since 1977, most recently Severe Winter Storm in January 2026. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (13), Snowstorm (3), Tropical Storm (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 |
| August 2020 | Hurricane | Hurricane Isaias |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| September 2019 | Hurricane | Hurricane Dorian |
| January 2019 | Hurricane | Tropical Storm Michael |
| September 2018 | Hurricane | Hurricane Florence |
Showing the 10 most recent of 24 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Montgomery County?
Montgomery County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 49.0 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 49th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Montgomery County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Hurricane (Medium, $2M EAL), Ice Storm (Medium, $253K EAL), Tornado (Medium, $2M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Montgomery County compare to other North Carolina counties?
Montgomery County ranks #78 of 100 North Carolina counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Montgomery County had?
FEMA records 24 federal disaster declarations for Montgomery County since 1977, most often 13 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. Montgomery County's $12M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.