Wake County
North Carolina — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
HighComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 96th
Wake County faces high composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 95.5, 96th national percentile), driven primarily by hail and riverine flood exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $299M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Hail | High | 4.10 / yr | $13M |
| Riverine Flood | High | 4.64 / yr | $222M |
| Heat Wave | High | 6.89 / yr | $15M |
| Tornado | High | 0.41 / yr | $20M |
| Lightning | High | 50.26 / yr | $2M |
| Ice Storm | High | 1.59 / yr | $2M |
| Hurricane | Medium | 0.18 / yr | $12M |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $6M |
| Winter Weather | Medium | 6.37 / yr | $425K |
| Cold Wave | Medium | 0.68 / yr | $7M |
| Landslide | Low | 0.44 / yr | $11K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $115K |
| Drought | Low | 13.52 / yr | $248K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 0.94 / yr | $861K |
| 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 Wake County?
Wake County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 95.5 out of 100, placing it in the High category and the 96th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Wake County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Hail (High, $13M EAL), Riverine Flood (High, $222M EAL), Heat Wave (High, $15M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Wake County compare to other North Carolina counties?
Wake County ranks #4 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. Wake County's $299M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.