Natural Disasters in Blowing Rock, NC

Hazard risk, disaster history, and FEMA data

Natural Hazard Risk

Source: FEMA National Risk Index

Risk Score

71.9

Relatively Low

Expected Annual Loss

68.8

Score (0-100)

Social Vulnerability

61.5

Score (0-100)

Community Resilience

68.4

Score (0-100)

Top Hazard Risks

Landslide98.8Ice Storm82.1Cold Wave81.9
HazardRisk Score
Landslide98.8
Ice Storm82.1
Cold Wave81.9
Drought76.2
Earthquake68.9
Lightning63.3
Hurricane61.9
Tornado60.1
Winter Weather55.8
Strong Wind45.5
Wildfire40.9
Hail36.7

Scores range from 0 (lowest risk) to 100 (highest risk) relative to all U.S. communities. Data from FEMA National Risk Index.

Disaster Declarations

Source: FEMA OpenFEMA

Total Declarations

21

Most Recent

Winter Storm

Jan 2026

Most Common Type

Hurricane

7 declarations

DateTypeDeclaration
Jan 24, 2026Winter StormSEVERE WINTER STORM
Sep 28, 2024Tropical StormTROPICAL STORM HELENE
Mar 3, 2021Severe StormTROPICAL STORM ETA
Aug 2, 2020HurricaneHURRICANE ISAIAS
Mar 25, 2020BiologicalCOVID-19 PANDEMIC
Mar 13, 2020BiologicalCOVID-19
Sep 3, 2019HurricaneHURRICANE DORIAN
Sep 10, 2018HurricaneHURRICANE FLORENCE
Sep 25, 2013FloodSEVERE STORMS, FLOODING, LANDSLIDES, AND MUDSLIDES
Feb 2, 2010Severe StormSEVERE WINTER STORMS AND FLOODING
Sep 5, 2005HurricaneHURRICANE KATRINA EVACUATION
Sep 18, 2004HurricaneHURRICANE IVAN
Sep 10, 2004HurricaneTROPICAL STORM FRANCES
Dec 12, 2002Severe Ice StormSEVERE ICE STORM
Feb 23, 1996SnowstormWINTER STORM
Jan 13, 1996SnowstormBLIZZARD OF 96
Mar 17, 1993SnowstormSEVERE SNOWFALL & WINTER STORM
Sep 25, 1989HurricaneHURRICANE HUGO
Nov 9, 1977FloodSEVERE STORMS & FLOODING
Aug 11, 1977DroughtDROUGHT

Showing 20 of 21 declarations

Flood Insurance (NFIP)

Source: FEMA NFIP

Total Claims

85

Total Claims Paid

$1,546,983

Avg Claim Payout

$18,200

County-level NFIP data from FEMA National Flood Insurance Program.

Disaster Recovery Spending

Source: FEMA Public Assistance

Total Federal Spending

$30,087,599

Disasters with PA

10

Total Projects

138

DisasterTypeProjectsFederal $
DR-4827Tropical Storm56$28,337,969
DR-4487Biological44$1,180,747
DR-4146Flood2$165,458
DR-4617Flood2$113,259
DR-1546Hurricane9$93,796
DR-4393Hurricane2$88,567
DR-1871Severe Storm(s)11$50,153
DR-1448Severe Ice Storm7$28,975
DR-4588Tropical Storm2$19,515
DR-1553Hurricane3$9,160

Hazard Mitigation

Source: FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance

Mitigation Projects

6

Federal Funding

$1,042,855

Properties Protected

4

Avg Benefit-Cost Ratio

0.50

BCR

Top Mitigation Project Types

Project TypeProjectsFederal $
200.1: Acquisition of Private Real Property (Structures and Land) - Riverine2$185,383
91.1: Local Multihazard Mitigation Plan2$26,148
200.3: Acquisition of Public Real Property (Structures and Land) - Riverine1$745,004
100.1: Public Awareness and Education (Brochures, Workshops, Videos, etc.); 600.1: Warning Systems (as a Component of a Planned, Adopted, and Exercised Risk Reduction Plan)1$86,320

Federally funded projects to reduce future disaster risk. Only includes completed or obligated projects.

Blowing Rock has a relatively low overall natural hazard risk rating according to FEMA's National Risk Index. The top hazard risks are landslide, ice storm, cold wave. The area has had 21 federal disaster declarations. The most common disaster type is hurricane (7 declarations). 85 flood insurance claims have been filed in the area. FEMA has obligated $30,087,599 in public assistance recovery funding. 6 hazard mitigation projects have been funded to reduce future risk.