Gates County
North Carolina — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 10th
Gates County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 10.5, 10th national percentile), driven primarily by hurricane and drought exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $5M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Hurricane | Low | 0.26 / yr | $1M |
| Drought | Low | 2.66 / yr | $213K |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 0.76 / yr | $605K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 3.48 / yr | $69K |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 3.63 / yr | $19K |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 6.85 / yr | $132K |
| Lightning | Low | 46.12 / yr | $99K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $59K |
| Tornado | Very Low | 0.20 / yr | $277K |
| Hail | Very Low | 2.15 / yr | $76K |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.73 / yr | $14K |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 0.53 / yr | $147K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 0.46 / yr | $2M |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $4K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.05 / yr | $7 |
| 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 Gates County?
Gates County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 10.5 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 10th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Gates County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Hurricane (Low, $1M EAL), Drought (Low, $213K EAL), Strong Wind (Medium, $605K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Gates County compare to other North Carolina counties?
Gates County ranks #99 of 100 North Carolina counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low 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. Gates County's $5M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.