Natural Disasters in Catawba, NC

Hazard risk, disaster history, and FEMA data

Natural Hazard Risk

Source: FEMA National Risk Index

Risk Score

80.6

Relatively Low

Expected Annual Loss

82.1

Score (0-100)

Social Vulnerability

32.4

Score (0-100)

Community Resilience

52.2

Score (0-100)

Top Hazard Risks

Ice Storm96.1Tornado86.3Earthquake85.9

Hazard	Risk Score
Ice Storm	96.1
Tornado	86.3
Earthquake	85.9
Lightning	85.3
Hurricane	76.9
Strong Wind	75.7
Hail	70.0
Cold Wave	65.1
Landslide	62.5
Drought	61.0
Winter Weather	60.9
Heat Wave	57.3
Wildfire	36.6

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

7 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
Aug 2, 2020	Hurricane	HURRICANE ISAIAS
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
Oct 29, 2013	Flood	SEVERE STORMS, FLOODING, LANDSLIDES, MUDSLIDES
Sep 5, 2005	Hurricane	HURRICANE KATRINA EVACUATION
Sep 10, 2004	Hurricane	TROPICAL STORM FRANCES
Dec 12, 2002	Severe Ice Storm	SEVERE ICE STORM
Feb 23, 1996	Snowstorm	WINTER STORM
Jan 13, 1996	Snowstorm	BLIZZARD OF 96
Mar 17, 1993	Snowstorm	SEVERE SNOWFALL & WINTER STORM
Sep 25, 1989	Hurricane	HURRICANE HUGO
May 17, 1989	Tornado	TORNADOES
Nov 9, 1977	Flood	SEVERE STORMS & FLOODING
Aug 11, 1977	Drought	DROUGHT
Mar 2, 1977	Snowstorm	DROUGHT & FREEZING

Individual Assistance

Source: FEMA Housing Assistance

Total IA Registrations

3,058

Total IA Distributed

$4,416,904

Repair/Replace

$941,461

Rental Assistance

$508,740

Disaster	Registrations	Total IA $	Avg Damage
DR-4393	1	N/A	—
DR-4364	1	N/A	—
DR-4827	2,846	$3,374,558	$1,020
DR-4487	190	$997,487	—
DR-1546	20	$44,858	$2,266

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

Flood Insurance (NFIP)

Source: FEMA NFIP

Total Claims

210

Total Claims Paid

$4,851,717

Avg Claim Payout

$23,103

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

Disaster Recovery Spending

Source: FEMA Public Assistance

Total Federal Spending

$6,857,245

Disasters with PA

Total Projects

111

Disaster	Type	Projects	Federal $
DR-4153	Flood	46	$4,579,001
DR-4827	Tropical Storm	35	$1,763,801
DR-1448	Severe Ice Storm	26	$456,999
DR-4487	Biological	4	$57,444

Hazard Mitigation

Source: FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance

Mitigation Projects

Federal Funding

$685,567

Properties Protected

Avg Benefit-Cost Ratio

0.92

BCR

Top Mitigation Project Types

Project Type	Projects	Federal $
601.1: Generators	3	$71,441
91.1: Local Multihazard Mitigation Plan	2	$49,663
200.3: Acquisition of Public Real Property (Structures and Land) - Riverine; 202.1: Elevation of Private Structures - Riverine	1	$564,463
800.1: Miscellaneous	1	$0

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

Catawba has a relatively low overall natural hazard risk rating according to FEMA's National Risk Index. The top hazard risks are ice storm, tornado, earthquake. The area has had 20 federal disaster declarations. The most common disaster type is hurricane (7 declarations). 210 flood insurance claims have been filed in the area. FEMA has obligated $6,857,245 in public assistance recovery funding. $4,416,904 has been distributed in individual assistance to disaster-affected residents. 7 hazard mitigation projects have been funded to reduce future risk.