Natural Disasters in Columbia, NC

Hazard risk, disaster history, and FEMA data

Natural Hazard Risk

Source: FEMA National Risk Index

Risk Score

46.0

Relatively Low

Expected Annual Loss

31.8

Score (0-100)

Social Vulnerability

94.8

Score (0-100)

Community Resilience

44.0

Score (0-100)

Top Hazard Risks

Hurricane92.1Coastal Flood68.8Wildfire57.2
HazardRisk Score
Hurricane92.1
Coastal Flood68.8
Wildfire57.2
Winter Weather42.5
Drought28.3
Heat Wave27.9
Lightning26.1
Tornado21.4
Earthquake19.0
Strong Wind16.8
Hail16.0
Ice Storm15.7
Cold Wave11.9
Landslide3.2

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

24

Most Recent

Winter Storm

Jan 2026

Most Common Type

Hurricane

17 declarations

DateTypeDeclaration
Jan 24, 2026Winter StormSEVERE WINTER STORM
Aug 6, 2024Tropical StormTROPICAL STORM DEBBY
Oct 1, 2022HurricaneHURRICANE IAN
Aug 2, 2020HurricaneHURRICANE ISAIAS
Mar 25, 2020BiologicalCOVID-19 PANDEMIC
Mar 13, 2020BiologicalCOVID-19
Oct 4, 2019HurricaneHURRICANE DORIAN
Sep 3, 2019HurricaneHURRICANE DORIAN
Sep 14, 2018HurricaneHURRICANE FLORENCE
Sep 10, 2018HurricaneHURRICANE FLORENCE
Oct 10, 2016HurricaneHURRICANE MATTHEW
Oct 7, 2016HurricaneHURRICANE MATTHEW
Aug 31, 2011HurricaneHURRICANE IRENE
Aug 25, 2011HurricaneHURRICANE IRENE
Apr 19, 2011Severe StormSEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES, AND FLOODING
Oct 14, 2010Severe StormSEVERE STORMS, FLOODING, AND STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS
Sep 1, 2010HurricaneHURRICANE EARL
Jun 13, 2008FireEVANS ROAD FIRE
Sep 14, 2005HurricaneHURRICANE OPHELIA
Sep 5, 2005HurricaneHURRICANE KATRINA EVACUATION

Showing 20 of 24 declarations

Individual Assistance

Source: FEMA Housing Assistance

Total IA Registrations

1,785

Total IA Distributed

$2,358,589

Repair/Replace

$1,221,035

Rental Assistance

$467,903

DisasterRegistrationsTotal IA $Avg Damage
DR-48272N/A—
DR-4019549$1,052,011$3,405
DR-1490739$867,886$1,804
DR-4285275$262,279$1,663
DR-1942212$161,287$771
DR-19696$9,777$7,793
DR-44872$5,348—

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

Flood Insurance (NFIP)

Source: FEMA NFIP

Total Claims

588

Total Claims Paid

$9,022,818

Avg Claim Payout

$15,345

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

Disaster Recovery Spending

Source: FEMA Public Assistance

Total Federal Spending

$1,932,234

Disasters with PA

8

Total Projects

93

DisasterTypeProjectsFederal $
DR-4465Hurricane12$792,569
DR-4019Hurricane41$746,638
DR-1490Hurricane16$205,315
DR-4285Hurricane13$139,467
DR-1292Hurricane6$20,513
DR-4393Hurricane3$19,890
DR-4487Biological1$6,465
DR-3314Hurricane1$1,378

Hazard Mitigation

Source: FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance

Mitigation Projects

3

Federal Funding

$248,737

Properties Protected

3

Avg Benefit-Cost Ratio

0.76

BCR

Top Mitigation Project Types

Project TypeProjectsFederal $
202.1: Elevation of Private Structures - Riverine1$14,048
207.2: Mitigation Reconstruction1$174,720
601.1: Generators1$59,969

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

Columbia has a relatively low overall natural hazard risk rating according to FEMA's National Risk Index. The top hazard risks are hurricane, coastal flood, wildfire. The area has had 24 federal disaster declarations. The most common disaster type is hurricane (17 declarations). 588 flood insurance claims have been filed in the area. FEMA has obligated $1,932,234 in public assistance recovery funding. $2,358,589 has been distributed in individual assistance to disaster-affected residents. 3 hazard mitigation projects have been funded to reduce future risk.