Natural Disasters in Burnsville, NC

Hazard risk, disaster history, and FEMA data

Natural Hazard Risk

Source: FEMA National Risk Index

Risk Score

42.2

Very Low

Expected Annual Loss

30.0

Score (0-100)

Social Vulnerability

89.6

Score (0-100)

Community Resilience

41.1

Score (0-100)

Top Hazard Risks

Landslide96.7Lightning82.6Ice Storm73.5

Hazard	Risk Score
Landslide	96.7
Lightning	82.6
Ice Storm	73.5
Cold Wave	71.6
Hurricane	54.9
Earthquake	52.0
Wildfire	51.8
Drought	51.0
Strong Wind	41.8
Tornado	35.1
Winter Weather	32.8
Hail	25.8

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

9 declarations

Date	Type	Declaration
Jan 24, 2026	Winter Storm	SEVERE WINTER STORM
Sep 28, 2024	Tropical Storm	TROPICAL STORM HELENE
Oct 1, 2022	Hurricane	HURRICANE IAN
Sep 8, 2021	Hurricane	REMNANTS OF TROPICAL STORM FRED
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 14, 2018	Hurricane	HURRICANE FLORENCE
Sep 10, 2018	Hurricane	HURRICANE FLORENCE
Sep 25, 2013	Flood	SEVERE STORMS, FLOODING, LANDSLIDES, AND MUDSLIDES
Feb 2, 2010	Severe Storm	SEVERE WINTER STORMS AND FLOODING
Sep 5, 2005	Hurricane	HURRICANE KATRINA EVACUATION
Sep 18, 2004	Hurricane	HURRICANE IVAN
Sep 10, 2004	Hurricane	TROPICAL STORM FRANCES
Jan 15, 1998	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING
Feb 23, 1996	Snowstorm	WINTER STORM
Jan 13, 1996	Snowstorm	BLIZZARD OF 96
Oct 23, 1995	Flood	SEVERE STORMS, FLOODING, HIGH WINDS

Showing 20 of 22 declarations

Individual Assistance

Source: FEMA Housing Assistance

Total IA Registrations

13,162

Total IA Distributed

$76,743,254

Repair/Replace

$49,924,902

Rental Assistance

$1,407,715

Disaster	Registrations	Total IA $	Avg Damage
DR-4827	12,666	$75,737,692	$7,210
DR-1553	344	$616,188	$1,807
DR-1546	132	$262,366	$6,880
DR-4487	20	$127,008	—

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

Flood Insurance (NFIP)

Source: FEMA NFIP

Total Claims

146

Total Claims Paid

$8,932,988

Avg Claim Payout

$61,185

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

Disaster Recovery Spending

Source: FEMA Public Assistance

Total Federal Spending

$18,940,023

Disasters with PA

Total Projects

138

Disaster	Type	Projects	Federal $
DR-4827	Tropical Storm	73	$16,873,618
DR-4617	Flood	9	$861,184
DR-4393	Hurricane	5	$710,554
DR-1553	Hurricane	24	$279,582
DR-4487	Biological	4	$137,117
DR-1546	Hurricane	18	$52,595
DR-4146	Flood	2	$14,368
DR-1871	Severe Storm(s)	3	$11,005

Hazard Mitigation

Source: FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance

Mitigation Projects

Federal Funding

$1,562,861

Properties Protected

Avg Benefit-Cost Ratio

2.53

BCR

Top Mitigation Project Types

Project Type	Projects	Federal $
91.1: Local Multihazard Mitigation Plan	4	$896,928
90.1: Mitigation Plan - Local Multihazard Mitigation Plan	1	$340,757
200.1: Acquisition of Private Real Property (Structures and Land) - Riverine	1	$0
800.1: Miscellaneous	1	$0
200.3: Acquisition of Public Real Property (Structures and Land) - Riverine	1	$325,176

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

Burnsville has a very low overall natural hazard risk rating according to FEMA's National Risk Index. The top hazard risks are landslide, lightning, ice storm. The area has had 22 federal disaster declarations. The most common disaster type is hurricane (9 declarations). 146 flood insurance claims have been filed in the area. FEMA has obligated $18,940,023 in public assistance recovery funding. $76,743,254 has been distributed in individual assistance to disaster-affected residents. 8 hazard mitigation projects have been funded to reduce future risk.