Natural Disasters in Bryson City, NC

Hazard risk, disaster history, and FEMA data

Natural Hazard Risk

Source: FEMA National Risk Index

Risk Score

49.1

Relatively Low

Expected Annual Loss

34.2

Score (0-100)

Social Vulnerability

93.8

Score (0-100)

Community Resilience

25.0

Score (0-100)

Top Hazard Risks

Landslide97.8Cold Wave76.1Ice Storm71.8

Hazard	Risk Score
Landslide	97.8
Cold Wave	76.1
Ice Storm	71.8
Earthquake	63.4
Wildfire	60.3
Hurricane	54.2
Strong Wind	49.8
Lightning	43.6
Winter Weather	36.8
Tornado	35.4
Drought	29.7
Hail	25.2

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

Most Recent

Winter Storm

Jan 2026

Most Common Type

Hurricane

6 declarations

Date	Type	Declaration
Jan 24, 2026	Winter Storm	SEVERE WINTER STORM
Apr 20, 2025	Fire	SAM DAVIS ROAD FIRE
Mar 26, 2025	Fire	ALARKA FIRE
Sep 28, 2024	Tropical Storm	TROPICAL STORM HELENE
Oct 1, 2022	Hurricane	HURRICANE IAN
Aug 2, 2020	Hurricane	HURRICANE ISAIAS
May 8, 2020	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES, AND FLOODING
Mar 25, 2020	Biological	COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Mar 13, 2020	Biological	COVID-19
Sep 3, 2019	Hurricane	HURRICANE DORIAN
Sep 10, 2018	Hurricane	HURRICANE FLORENCE
Sep 5, 2005	Hurricane	HURRICANE KATRINA EVACUATION
Sep 18, 2004	Hurricane	HURRICANE IVAN
Jan 13, 1996	Snowstorm	BLIZZARD OF 96
Oct 23, 1995	Flood	SEVERE STORMS, FLOODING, HIGH WINDS
Mar 17, 1993	Snowstorm	SEVERE SNOWFALL & WINTER STORM

Individual Assistance

Source: FEMA Housing Assistance

Total IA Registrations

1,669

Total IA Distributed

$4,410,592

Repair/Replace

$1,858,019

Rental Assistance

$431,937

Disaster	Registrations	Total IA $	Avg Damage
DR-4827	1,591	$4,227,018	$2,361
DR-1553	59	$131,073	$4,956
DR-4487	11	$42,419	—
DR-1546	8	$10,083	$1,276

Individual and household assistance for homeowners and renters affected by federally declared disasters.

Flood Insurance (NFIP)

Source: FEMA NFIP

Total Claims

Total Claims Paid

$1,207,053

Avg Claim Payout

$21,555

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

Disaster Recovery Spending

Source: FEMA Public Assistance

Total Federal Spending

$1,607,749

Disasters with PA

Total Projects

Disaster	Type	Projects	Federal $
DR-4146	Flood	6	$1,284,224
DR-4827	Tropical Storm	7	$197,244
DR-4543	Severe Storm(s)	4	$88,389
DR-1553	Hurricane	20	$30,744
DR-4487	Biological	1	$7,147

Hazard Mitigation

Source: FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance

Mitigation Projects

Federal Funding

$324,727

Properties Protected

Avg Benefit-Cost Ratio

1.31

BCR

Top Mitigation Project Types

Project Type	Projects	Federal $
601.1: Generators	2	$93,189
600.1: Warning Systems (as a Component of a Planned, Adopted, and Exercised Risk Reduction Plan)	2	$48,893
602.1: Other Equipment Purchase and Installation	1	$18,899
93.1: Tribal (Local) Multihazard Mitigation Plan	1	$12,996
700.1: Management Costs - Salaries	1	$36,084

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

Bryson City has a relatively low overall natural hazard risk rating according to FEMA's National Risk Index. The top hazard risks are landslide, cold wave, ice storm. The area has had 16 federal disaster declarations. The most common disaster type is hurricane (6 declarations). 56 flood insurance claims have been filed in the area. FEMA has obligated $1,607,749 in public assistance recovery funding. $4,410,592 has been distributed in individual assistance to disaster-affected residents. 9 hazard mitigation projects have been funded to reduce future risk.