Wilson County, North Carolina Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · NC
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 76th
Wilson County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 76.3, 76th national percentile), driven primarily by winter weather and hurricane exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $30M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Wilson County at low composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 76.3 out of 100 — placing it in the 76th 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.
The county's risk is driven primarily by winter weather (heavy snow, blizzards, and hazardous winter conditions) at High risk — $678K in expected annual loss and about 5.26 events per year; hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at Medium risk — $7M in expected annual loss and about 0.24 events per year; and drought (extended dry periods that stress water supplies and agriculture) at Medium risk — $1M in expected annual loss and about 9.28 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $30M in expected annual loss for a population of 79K.
Beyond physical exposure, Wilson County has a high 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). That combination — a more vulnerable population with limited resilience — can amplify the human cost of any given event.
The federal record bears this out: Wilson County has received 28 federal disaster declarations since 1968, including 15 for hurricane events and 3 for severe storm events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in January 2026.
Among 100 North Carolina counties, Wilson County ranks #41 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Winter Weather | High | 5.26 / yr | $678K |
| Hurricane | Medium | 0.24 / yr | $7M |
| Drought | Medium | 9.28 / yr | $1M |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 8.05 / yr | $1M |
| Hail | Medium | 3.94 / yr | $644K |
| Riverine Flood | Medium | 1.11 / yr | $15M |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.23 / yr | $2M |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $593K |
| Ice Storm | Medium | 0.81 / yr | $145K |
| Lightning | Medium | 49.16 / yr | $305K |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 0.92 / yr | $528K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 0.53 / yr | $945K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $23K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.05 / yr | $77 |
| 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
Wilson County has received 28 federal disaster declarations since 1968, most recently Severe Winter Storm in January 2026. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (15), Severe Storm (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 |
| March 2021 | Severe Storm | Tropical Storm Eta |
| August 2020 | Hurricane | Hurricane Isaias |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| September 2019 | Hurricane | Hurricane Dorian |
| September 2018 | Hurricane | Hurricane Florence |
Showing the 10 most recent of 28 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Wilson County?
Wilson County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 76.3 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 76th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Wilson County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Winter Weather (High, $678K EAL), Hurricane (Medium, $7M EAL), Drought (Medium, $1M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Wilson County compare to other North Carolina counties?
Wilson County ranks #41 of 100 North Carolina counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Wilson County had?
FEMA records 28 federal disaster declarations for Wilson County since 1968, most often 15 for hurricane events and 3 for severe 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. Wilson County's $30M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.