Davidson County

North Carolina — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment

Medium

Composite Risk Score

87.2

National percentile: 87th

Davidson County faces medium composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 87.2, 87th national percentile), driven primarily by ice storm and riverine flood exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $64M.

Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025

Expected Annual Loss $64M Annualized county-level EAL
Social Vulnerability Medium Population sensitivity
Community Resilience Low Capacity to recover
Population 169K Latest estimate

Top Hazards

Ice Storm
Very High $2M/yr
Riverine Flood
Medium $44M/yr
Tornado
Medium $6M/yr

All 18 Hazard Risks

Ice Storm Very High 2.12 / yr $2M
Riverine Flood Medium 1.86 / yr $44M
Tornado Medium 0.22 / yr $6M
Cold Wave Medium 0.68 / yr $5M
Hurricane Medium 0.09 / yr $3M
Strong Wind Medium 2.33 / yr $1M
Winter Weather Medium 7.47 / yr $208K
Earthquake Low 0.00 / yr $1M
Hail Medium 4.84 / yr $716K
Lightning Medium 49.22 / yr $467K
Heat Wave Low 1.84 / yr $688K
Landslide Low 0.51 / yr $3K
Drought Low 22.31 / yr $242K
Wildfire Very Low 0.00 / yr $45K
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

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the overall natural disaster risk for Davidson County?

Davidson County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 87.2 out of 100, placing it in the Medium category and the 87th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.

What are the top natural hazards in Davidson County?

The three highest-rated hazards are Ice Storm (Very High, $2M EAL), Riverine Flood (Medium, $44M EAL), Tornado (Medium, $6M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.

How does Davidson County compare to other North Carolina counties?

Davidson County ranks #21 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. Davidson County's $64M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.