Natural Disasters in Hillsborough, NC

Hazard risk, disaster history, and FEMA data

Natural Hazard Risk

Source: FEMA National Risk Index

Risk Score

79.1

Relatively Low

Expected Annual Loss

83.6

Score (0-100)

Social Vulnerability

16.6

Score (0-100)

Community Resilience

93.6

Score (0-100)

Top Hazard Risks

Winter Weather86.2Lightning85.3Heat Wave84.1
HazardRisk Score
Winter Weather86.2
Lightning85.3
Heat Wave84.1
Hurricane81.9
Tornado81.5
Hail76.5
Strong Wind74.5
Ice Storm73.5
Earthquake64.9
Drought54.5
Landslide41.7
Cold Wave36.1
Wildfire28.4

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

25

Most Recent

Winter Storm

Jan 2026

Most Common Type

Hurricane

11 declarations

DateTypeDeclaration
Jan 24, 2026Winter StormSEVERE WINTER STORM
Sep 11, 2025Tropical DepressionTROPICAL DEPRESSION CHANTAL
Sep 26, 2024Tropical StormHURRICANE HELENE
Aug 6, 2024Tropical StormTROPICAL STORM DEBBY
Oct 1, 2022HurricaneHURRICANE IAN
Mar 25, 2020BiologicalCOVID-19 PANDEMIC
Mar 13, 2020BiologicalCOVID-19
Sep 3, 2019HurricaneHURRICANE DORIAN
Jan 31, 2019HurricaneTROPICAL STORM MICHAEL
Sep 14, 2018HurricaneHURRICANE FLORENCE
Sep 10, 2018HurricaneHURRICANE FLORENCE
Oct 7, 2016HurricaneHURRICANE MATTHEW
Mar 31, 2014Severe Ice StormSEVERE WINTER STORM
Sep 5, 2005HurricaneHURRICANE KATRINA EVACUATION
Sep 18, 2003HurricaneHURRICANE ISABEL
Mar 27, 2003Severe Ice StormICE STORM
Dec 12, 2002Severe Ice StormSEVERE ICE STORM
Jan 31, 2000Severe StormSEVERE WINTER STORM
Sep 16, 1999HurricaneHURRICANE FLOYD MAJOR DISASTER DECLARATIONS
Sep 15, 1999HurricaneHURRICANE FLOYD EMERGENCY DECLARATIONS

Showing 20 of 25 declarations

Individual Assistance

Source: FEMA Housing Assistance

Total IA Registrations

541

Total IA Distributed

$2,453,298

Repair/Replace

$26,173

Rental Assistance

$101,628

DisasterRegistrationsTotal IA $Avg Damage
DR-48275N/A—
DR-4487393$2,221,218—
DR-4393125$224,696$1,543
DR-149017$6,883$408
DR-42851$500—

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

Flood Insurance (NFIP)

Source: FEMA NFIP

Total Claims

568

Total Claims Paid

$34,679,760

Avg Claim Payout

$61,056

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

Disaster Recovery Spending

Source: FEMA Public Assistance

Total Federal Spending

$148,597,568

Disasters with PA

10

Total Projects

197

DisasterTypeProjectsFederal $
DR-4487Biological49$143,258,470
DR-1448Severe Ice Storm31$1,780,027
DR-4393Hurricane41$1,219,152
DR-4167Severe Ice Storm17$966,574
DR-4889Severe Storm(s)16$559,471
DR-1490Hurricane13$276,439
DR-1312Severe Storm(s)11$205,159
DR-1292Hurricane11$203,271
DR-4412Tropical Storm7$128,016
DR-1457Severe Ice Storm1$988

Hazard Mitigation

Source: FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance

Mitigation Projects

8

Federal Funding

$1,323,637

Properties Protected

6

Avg Benefit-Cost Ratio

0.98

BCR

Top Mitigation Project Types

Project TypeProjectsFederal $
200.1: Acquisition of Private Real Property (Structures and Land) - Riverine3$680,219
601.1: Generators2$67,709
202.1: Elevation of Private Structures - Riverine1$236,660
200.3: Acquisition of Public Real Property (Structures and Land) - Riverine1$0
92.1: State Multihazard Mitigation Plan1$339,049

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

Hillsborough has a relatively low overall natural hazard risk rating according to FEMA's National Risk Index. The top hazard risks are winter weather, lightning, heat wave. The area has had 25 federal disaster declarations. The most common disaster type is hurricane (11 declarations). 568 flood insurance claims have been filed in the area. FEMA has obligated $148,597,568 in public assistance recovery funding. $2,453,298 has been distributed in individual assistance to disaster-affected residents. 8 hazard mitigation projects have been funded to reduce future risk.