Onslow County, North Carolina Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · NC
HighComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 95th
Onslow County faces high composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 95.0, 95th national percentile), driven primarily by hurricane and winter weather exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $216M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in Onslow County is high, with a National Risk Index score of 95.0 out of 100 — placing it in the 95th national percentile and in the upper tier of natural-disaster risk nationally. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
Most of Onslow County's expected losses come from hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at Very High risk — $171M in expected annual loss and about 0.38 events per year; winter weather (heavy snow, blizzards, and hazardous winter conditions) at Very High risk — $2M in expected annual loss and about 2.55 events per year; and lightning (electrical discharges from storms that ignite fires and cause casualties) at High risk — $2M in expected annual loss and about 55.86 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $216M in expected annual loss for a population of 203K.
Beyond physical exposure, Onslow County has a very low 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). Both measures sit toward the lower end, indicating relatively modest population sensitivity.
The federal record bears this out: Onslow County has received 30 federal disaster declarations since 1996, including 22 for hurricane events and 3 for tropical storm events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in January 2026.
Among 100 North Carolina counties, Onslow County ranks #5 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Hurricane | Very High | 0.38 / yr | $171M |
| Winter Weather | Very High | 2.55 / yr | $2M |
| Lightning | High | 55.86 / yr | $2M |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 8.53 / yr | $3M |
| Wildfire | Low | 0.00 / yr | $968K |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.59 / yr | $7M |
| Coastal Flood | Medium | 3.26 / yr | $3M |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 1.21 / yr | $2M |
| Riverine Flood | Medium | 1.54 / yr | $23M |
| Ice Storm | Medium | 0.65 / yr | $394K |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $834K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 0.42 / yr | $2M |
| Hail | Low | 2.52 / yr | $266K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.12 / yr | $742 |
| Drought | Low | 6.48 / yr | $48K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Disaster History
Onslow County has received 30 federal disaster declarations since 1996, most recently Severe Winter Storm in January 2026. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (22), Tropical Storm (3), Biological (2).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| January 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| October 2024 | Tropical Storm | Potential Tropical Cyclone Eight |
| 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 |
Showing the 10 most recent of 30 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Onslow County?
Onslow County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 95.0 out of 100, placing it in the High category and the 95th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Onslow County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Hurricane (Very High, $171M EAL), Winter Weather (Very High, $2M EAL), Lightning (High, $2M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Onslow County compare to other North Carolina counties?
Onslow County ranks #5 of 100 North Carolina counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a high rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Onslow County had?
FEMA records 30 federal disaster declarations for Onslow County since 1996, most often 22 for hurricane events and 3 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. Onslow County's $216M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.