Natural Disasters in Kinston, NC

Hazard risk, disaster history, and FEMA data

Natural Hazard Risk

Source: FEMA National Risk Index

Risk Score

84.6

Relatively Moderate

Expected Annual Loss

77.1

Score (0-100)

Social Vulnerability

89.8

Score (0-100)

Community Resilience

51.8

Score (0-100)

Top Hazard Risks

Winter Weather95.5Hurricane94.9Tornado86.5
HazardRisk Score
Winter Weather95.5
Hurricane94.9
Tornado86.5
Strong Wind76.1
Heat Wave76.1
Earthquake73.5
Hail72.2
Lightning72.2
Drought68.6
Ice Storm65.9
Cold Wave48.4
Wildfire33.7
Coastal Flood28.4
Landslide18.3

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

29

Most Recent

Winter Storm

Jan 2026

Most Common Type

Hurricane

20 declarations

DateTypeDeclaration
Jan 24, 2026Winter StormSEVERE WINTER STORM
Sep 26, 2024Tropical StormHURRICANE HELENE
Aug 6, 2024Tropical StormTROPICAL STORM DEBBY
Oct 1, 2022HurricaneHURRICANE IAN
Oct 14, 2020HurricaneHURRICANE ISAIAS
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
Sep 1, 2010HurricaneHURRICANE EARL
Sep 14, 2005HurricaneHURRICANE OPHELIA
Sep 5, 2005HurricaneHURRICANE KATRINA EVACUATION
Sep 18, 2003HurricaneHURRICANE ISABEL

Showing 20 of 29 declarations

Individual Assistance

Source: FEMA Housing Assistance

Total IA Registrations

5,762

Total IA Distributed

$6,616,217

Repair/Replace

$2,323,403

Rental Assistance

$1,505,764

DisasterRegistrationsTotal IA $Avg Damage
DR-19422N/A$236
DR-482735N/A—
DR-42852,606$3,591,600$1,539
DR-4487161$953,574—
DR-43931,203$924,267$1,423
DR-40191,410$891,431$1,065
DR-1490338$253,661$1,006
DR-19697$1,684$386

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

Flood Insurance (NFIP)

Source: FEMA NFIP

Total Claims

835

Total Claims Paid

$44,415,455

Avg Claim Payout

$53,192

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

Disaster Recovery Spending

Source: FEMA Public Assistance

Total Federal Spending

$54,699,653

Disasters with PA

7

Total Projects

409

DisasterTypeProjectsFederal $
DR-1292Hurricane191$40,064,412
DR-4393Hurricane53$5,508,515
DR-4285Hurricane53$4,579,429
DR-4019Hurricane67$3,467,346
DR-1490Hurricane30$524,615
DR-4568Hurricane6$301,721
DR-4465Hurricane9$253,615

Hazard Mitigation

Source: FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance

Mitigation Projects

14

Federal Funding

$25,852,837

Properties Protected

765

Avg Benefit-Cost Ratio

0.75

BCR

Top Mitigation Project Types

Project TypeProjectsFederal $
200.1: Acquisition of Private Real Property (Structures and Land) - Riverine9$15,662,783
601.1: Generators3$81,823
200.3: Acquisition of Public Real Property (Structures and Land) - Riverine1$10,033,253
90.4: Mitigation Plan - Local Multihazard Mitigation Plan1$74,978

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

Kinston has a relatively moderate overall natural hazard risk rating according to FEMA's National Risk Index. The top hazard risks are winter weather, hurricane, tornado. The area has had 29 federal disaster declarations. The most common disaster type is hurricane (20 declarations). 835 flood insurance claims have been filed in the area. FEMA has obligated $54,699,653 in public assistance recovery funding. $6,616,217 has been distributed in individual assistance to disaster-affected residents. 14 hazard mitigation projects have been funded to reduce future risk.