Beaufort County
North Carolina — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
MediumComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 88th
Beaufort County faces medium composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 88.2, 88th national percentile), driven primarily by hurricane and winter weather exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $54M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Hurricane | High | 0.36 / yr | $40M |
| Winter Weather | High | 3.42 / yr | $469K |
| Coastal Flood | Medium | 2.61 / yr | $2M |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.65 / yr | $2M |
| Lightning | Medium | 52.36 / yr | $403K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 8.53 / yr | $708K |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 0.92 / yr | $651K |
| Wildfire | Low | 0.00 / yr | $98K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 0.68 / yr | $6M |
| Ice Storm | Low | 0.61 / yr | $81K |
| Drought | Low | 2.41 / yr | $95K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $186K |
| Hail | Low | 2.37 / yr | $133K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 0.42 / yr | $418K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.11 / yr | $213 |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Beaufort County?
Beaufort County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 88.2 out of 100, placing it in the Medium category and the 88th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Beaufort County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Hurricane (High, $40M EAL), Winter Weather (High, $469K EAL), Coastal Flood (Medium, $2M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Beaufort County compare to other North Carolina counties?
Beaufort County ranks #20 of 100 North Carolina counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a medium rating.
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. Beaufort County's $54M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.