Wilson County
North Carolina — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 76th
Wilson County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 76.3, 76th national percentile), driven primarily by winter weather and hurricane exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $30M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Winter Weather | High | 5.26 / yr | $678K |
| Hurricane | Medium | 0.24 / yr | $7M |
| Drought | Medium | 9.28 / yr | $1M |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 8.05 / yr | $1M |
| Hail | Medium | 3.94 / yr | $644K |
| Riverine Flood | Medium | 1.11 / yr | $15M |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.23 / yr | $2M |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $593K |
| Ice Storm | Medium | 0.81 / yr | $145K |
| Lightning | Medium | 49.16 / yr | $305K |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 0.92 / yr | $528K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 0.53 / yr | $945K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $23K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.05 / yr | $77 |
| 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 Wilson County?
Wilson County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 76.3 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 76th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Wilson County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Winter Weather (High, $678K EAL), Hurricane (Medium, $7M EAL), Drought (Medium, $1M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Wilson County compare to other North Carolina counties?
Wilson County ranks #41 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. Wilson County's $30M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.