Pamlico County, North Carolina Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · NC
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 72th
Pamlico County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 72.4, 72th national percentile), driven primarily by hurricane and wildfire exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $23M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Pamlico County carries a low composite natural disaster risk, with a National Risk Index score of 72.4 out of 100 — placing it in the 72nd 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 High risk — $19M in expected annual loss and about 0.43 events per year; wildfire (uncontrolled fires that spread across wildland and into communities) at Low risk — $242K in expected annual loss and about 0.00 events per year; and lightning (electrical discharges from storms that ignite fires and cause casualties) at Medium risk — $425K in expected annual loss and about 53.07 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $23M in expected annual loss for a population of 12K.
Beyond physical exposure, Pamlico County has a very high social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a high community resilience rating (its capacity to prepare for and recover from disasters). Higher vulnerability is partly offset by strong community resilience and recovery capacity.
History supports the rating: Pamlico County has received 30 federal disaster declarations since 1988, including 23 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, Pamlico County ranks #49 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Hurricane | High | 0.43 / yr | $19M |
| Wildfire | Low | 0.00 / yr | $242K |
| Lightning | Medium | 53.07 / yr | $425K |
| Winter Weather | Medium | 2.63 / yr | $116K |
| Coastal Flood | Low | 0.80 / yr | $287K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 8.53 / yr | $193K |
| Ice Storm | Low | 0.60 / yr | $36K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.33 / yr | $535K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $69K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 0.89 / yr | $127K |
| Drought | Very Low | 0.37 / yr | $2K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 0.43 / yr | $2M |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 0.42 / yr | $112K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.04 / yr | $46 |
| Hail | Very Low | 1.89 / yr | $27K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Disaster History
Pamlico County has received 30 federal disaster declarations since 1988, most recently Severe Winter Storm in January 2026. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (23), 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 30 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Pamlico County?
Pamlico County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 72.4 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 72th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Pamlico County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Hurricane (High, $19M EAL), Wildfire (Low, $242K EAL), Lightning (Medium, $425K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Pamlico County compare to other North Carolina counties?
Pamlico County ranks #49 of 100 North Carolina counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Pamlico County had?
FEMA records 30 federal disaster declarations for Pamlico County since 1988, most often 23 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. Pamlico County's $23M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.