Haywood County
North Carolina — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 77th
Haywood County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 77.2, 77th national percentile), driven primarily by landslide and cold wave exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $32M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Landslide | High | 2.02 / yr | $545K |
| Cold Wave | High | 3.85 / yr | $7M |
| Riverine Flood | Medium | 1.07 / yr | $20M |
| Lightning | Medium | 55.35 / yr | $576K |
| Ice Storm | Medium | 0.60 / yr | $271K |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $759K |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 3.24 / yr | $846K |
| Winter Weather | Medium | 22.65 / yr | $83K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $65K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.02 / yr | $138K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.18 / yr | $1M |
| Hail | Low | 3.82 / yr | $249K |
| Drought | Low | 27.85 / yr | $84K |
| 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 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Haywood County?
Haywood County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 77.2 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 77th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Haywood County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Landslide (High, $545K EAL), Cold Wave (High, $7M EAL), Riverine Flood (Medium, $20M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Haywood County compare to other North Carolina counties?
Haywood County ranks #38 of 100 North Carolina counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a 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. Haywood County's $32M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.