Natural Disasters in Kitty Hawk, NC

Hazard risk, disaster history, and FEMA data

Natural Hazard Risk

Source: FEMA National Risk Index

Risk Score

89.6

Relatively Moderate

Expected Annual Loss

88.9

Score (0-100)

Social Vulnerability

45.2

Score (0-100)

Community Resilience

99.9

Score (0-100)

Top Hazard Risks

Hurricane97.7Lightning94.7Winter Weather88.5
HazardRisk Score
Hurricane97.7
Lightning94.7
Winter Weather88.5
Coastal Flood86.8
Wildfire82.7
Heat Wave51.2
Tornado47.0
Strong Wind35.2
Earthquake24.8
Ice Storm24.5
Cold Wave21.8
Landslide20.7
Drought14.3
Hail13.8

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

30

Most Recent

Winter Storm

Jan 2026

Most Common Type

Hurricane

22 declarations

DateTypeDeclaration
Jan 24, 2026Winter StormSEVERE WINTER STORM
Oct 19, 2024Tropical StormPOTENTIAL TROPICAL CYCLONE EIGHT
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
Jan 31, 2019HurricaneTROPICAL STORM MICHAEL
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
Oct 7, 2005HurricaneHURRICANE OPHELIA
Sep 14, 2005HurricaneHURRICANE OPHELIA
Sep 5, 2005HurricaneHURRICANE KATRINA EVACUATION

Showing 20 of 30 declarations

Flood Insurance (NFIP)

Source: FEMA NFIP

Total Claims

18,908

Total Claims Paid

$228,347,294

Avg Claim Payout

$12,077

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

Disaster Recovery Spending

Source: FEMA Public Assistance

Total Federal Spending

$62,661,986

Disasters with PA

12

Total Projects

361

DisasterTypeProjectsFederal $
DR-4465Hurricane40$21,112,931
DR-1490Hurricane86$15,734,612
DR-4285Hurricane49$15,423,681
DR-4019Hurricane85$3,773,757
DR-4393Hurricane13$3,450,078
DR-1292Hurricane30$1,682,188
DR-3141Hurricane12$525,102
DR-4412Tropical Storm18$429,383
DR-4487Biological12$372,447
DR-3314Hurricane8$90,361
DR-3254Hurricane5$43,407
DR-1608Hurricane3$24,039

Hazard Mitigation

Source: FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance

Mitigation Projects

22

Federal Funding

$8,245,443

Properties Protected

76

Avg Benefit-Cost Ratio

1.75

BCR

Top Mitigation Project Types

Project TypeProjectsFederal $
202.2: Elevation of Private Structures - Coastal6$4,208,559
601.1: Generators4$174,894
202.1: Elevation of Private Structures - Riverine2$560,862
91.3: Local Multihazard Mitigation Plan - UPDATE1$67,019
202.1: Elevation of Private Structures - Riverine; 202.2: Elevation of Private Structures - Coastal1$1,654,185

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

Kitty Hawk has a relatively moderate overall natural hazard risk rating according to FEMA's National Risk Index. The top hazard risks are hurricane, lightning, winter weather. The area has had 30 federal disaster declarations. The most common disaster type is hurricane (22 declarations). 18,908 flood insurance claims have been filed in the area. FEMA has obligated $62,661,986 in public assistance recovery funding. 22 hazard mitigation projects have been funded to reduce future risk.