Onslow County
North Carolina — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
HighComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 95th
Onslow County faces high composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 95.0, 95th national percentile), driven primarily by hurricane and winter weather exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $216M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Hurricane | Very High | 0.38 / yr | $171M |
| Winter Weather | Very High | 2.55 / yr | $2M |
| Lightning | High | 55.86 / yr | $2M |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 8.53 / yr | $3M |
| Wildfire | Low | 0.00 / yr | $968K |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.59 / yr | $7M |
| Coastal Flood | Medium | 3.26 / yr | $3M |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 1.21 / yr | $2M |
| Riverine Flood | Medium | 1.54 / yr | $23M |
| Ice Storm | Medium | 0.65 / yr | $394K |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $834K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 0.42 / yr | $2M |
| Hail | Low | 2.52 / yr | $266K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.12 / yr | $742 |
| Drought | Low | 6.48 / yr | $48K |
| 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 Onslow County?
Onslow County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 95.0 out of 100, placing it in the High category and the 95th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Onslow County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Hurricane (Very High, $171M EAL), Winter Weather (Very High, $2M EAL), Lightning (High, $2M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Onslow County compare to other North Carolina counties?
Onslow County ranks #5 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. Onslow County's $216M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.