Mecklenburg County
North Carolina — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
HighComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 97th
Mecklenburg County faces high composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 97.1, 97th national percentile), driven primarily by riverine flood and tornado exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $318M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Riverine Flood | High | 3.50 / yr | $256M |
| Tornado | High | 0.28 / yr | $24M |
| Ice Storm | High | 2.10 / yr | $2M |
| Lightning | High | 52.13 / yr | $2M |
| Hail | High | 4.80 / yr | $3M |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 3.00 / yr | $6M |
| Earthquake | Medium | 0.00 / yr | $11M |
| Strong Wind | High | 2.73 / yr | $3M |
| Winter Weather | High | 5.26 / yr | $345K |
| Hurricane | Medium | 0.09 / yr | $4M |
| Cold Wave | Medium | 0.32 / yr | $5M |
| Landslide | Low | 0.39 / yr | $8K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $119K |
| Drought | Very Low | 24.13 / yr | $25K |
| 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 Mecklenburg County?
Mecklenburg County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 97.1 out of 100, placing it in the High category and the 97th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Mecklenburg County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Riverine Flood (High, $256M EAL), Tornado (High, $24M EAL), Ice Storm (High, $2M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Mecklenburg County compare to other North Carolina counties?
Mecklenburg County ranks #1 of 100 North Carolina counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a high 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. Mecklenburg County's $318M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.