Yancey County, North Carolina Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · NC
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 42th
Yancey County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 42.2, 42th national percentile), driven primarily by landslide and lightning exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $9M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in Yancey County is very low, with a National Risk Index score of 42.2 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.
Most of Yancey County's expected losses come from landslide (downhill movement of rock, soil, and debris on unstable slopes) at Medium risk — $164K in expected annual loss and about 1.05 events per year; lightning (electrical discharges from storms that ignite fires and cause casualties) at High risk — $548K in expected annual loss and about 53.57 events per year; and ice storm (freezing rain that coats surfaces in heavy, damaging ice) at Medium risk — $177K in expected annual loss and about 0.77 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $9M in expected annual loss for a population of 18K.
Beyond physical exposure, Yancey County has a very 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: Yancey County has received 23 federal disaster declarations since 1977, including 9 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, Yancey County ranks #84 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Landslide | Medium | 1.05 / yr | $164K |
| Lightning | High | 53.57 / yr | $548K |
| Ice Storm | Medium | 0.77 / yr | $177K |
| Cold Wave | Medium | 4.79 / yr | $2M |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 0.89 / yr | $5M |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.02 / yr | $81K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $202K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $35K |
| Drought | Low | 27.93 / yr | $103K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 2.84 / yr | $287K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.09 / yr | $449K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 25.26 / yr | $23K |
| Hail | Very Low | 4.08 / yr | $64K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Disaster History
Yancey County has received 23 federal disaster declarations since 1977, most recently Severe Winter Storm in January 2026. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (9), Severe Storm (3), Flood (3).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| January 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| September 2024 | Tropical Storm | Tropical Storm Helene |
| September 2024 | Tropical Storm | Hurricane Helene |
| October 2022 | Hurricane | Hurricane Ian |
| September 2021 | Hurricane | Remnants of Tropical Storm Fred |
| August 2020 | Hurricane | Hurricane Isaias |
| May 2020 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| September 2019 | Hurricane | Hurricane Dorian |
Showing the 10 most recent of 23 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Yancey County?
Yancey County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 42.2 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 Yancey County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Landslide (Medium, $164K EAL), Lightning (High, $548K EAL), Ice Storm (Medium, $177K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Yancey County compare to other North Carolina counties?
Yancey County ranks #84 of 100 North Carolina counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Yancey County had?
FEMA records 23 federal disaster declarations for Yancey County since 1977, most often 9 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. Yancey County's $9M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.