Person County, North Carolina Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · NC
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 42th
Person County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 41.5, 42th national percentile), driven primarily by drought and hurricane exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $10M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in Person County is very low, with a National Risk Index score of 41.5 out of 100 — placing it in the 42nd national percentile and among the lowest-risk counties in the country. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
The county's risk is driven primarily by drought (extended dry periods that stress water supplies and agriculture) at Medium risk — $496K in expected annual loss and about 17.36 events per year; hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at Low risk — $557K in expected annual loss and about 0.09 events per year; and winter weather (heavy snow, blizzards, and hazardous winter conditions) at Medium risk — $91K in expected annual loss and about 7.74 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $10M in expected annual loss for a population of 39K.
Beyond physical exposure, Person 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.
History supports the rating: Person County has received 27 federal disaster declarations since 1977, including 12 for hurricane events and 3 for severe ice storm events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in January 2026.
Among 100 North Carolina counties, Person County ranks #86 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Drought | Medium | 17.36 / yr | $496K |
| Hurricane | Low | 0.09 / yr | $557K |
| Winter Weather | Medium | 7.74 / yr | $91K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 2.63 / yr | $587K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $319K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.14 / yr | $1M |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 0.64 / yr | $6M |
| Hail | Low | 4.37 / yr | $235K |
| Lightning | Low | 45.31 / yr | $145K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 2.02 / yr | $335K |
| Ice Storm | Low | 1.73 / yr | $44K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.24 / yr | $310 |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $6K |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 0.68 / yr | $140K |
| 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
Person County has received 27 federal disaster declarations since 1977, most recently Severe Winter Storm in January 2026. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (12), Severe Ice Storm (3), Snowstorm (3).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| January 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| September 2025 | Tropical Depression | Tropical Depression Chantal |
| 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 |
Showing the 10 most recent of 27 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Person County?
Person County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 41.5 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 42th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Person County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Drought (Medium, $496K EAL), Hurricane (Low, $557K EAL), Winter Weather (Medium, $91K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Person County compare to other North Carolina counties?
Person County ranks #86 of 100 North Carolina counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Person County had?
FEMA records 27 federal disaster declarations for Person County since 1977, most often 12 for hurricane events and 3 for severe ice 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. Person County's $10M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.