Natural Disasters in Mars Hill, NC

Hazard risk, disaster history, and FEMA data

Natural Hazard Risk

Source: FEMA National Risk Index

Risk Score

27.4

Very Low

Expected Annual Loss

31.5

Score (0-100)

Social Vulnerability

37.4

Score (0-100)

Community Resilience

45.1

Score (0-100)

Top Hazard Risks

Landslide95.6Lightning69.9Ice Storm62.9

Hazard	Risk Score
Landslide	95.6
Lightning	69.9
Ice Storm	62.9
Wildfire	62.6
Cold Wave	53.1
Earthquake	47.6
Hurricane	41.6
Strong Wind	29.5
Hail	26.7
Winter Weather	25.6
Tornado	25.3
Drought	15.2

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

Most Recent

Winter Storm

Jan 2026

Most Common Type

Hurricane

9 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
Sep 8, 2021	Hurricane	REMNANTS OF TROPICAL STORM FRED
Aug 2, 2020	Hurricane	HURRICANE ISAIAS
May 8, 2020	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES, AND FLOODING
Mar 25, 2020	Biological	COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Mar 13, 2020	Biological	COVID-19
Sep 3, 2019	Hurricane	HURRICANE DORIAN
Sep 14, 2018	Hurricane	HURRICANE FLORENCE
Sep 10, 2018	Hurricane	HURRICANE FLORENCE
Sep 25, 2013	Flood	SEVERE STORMS, FLOODING, LANDSLIDES, AND MUDSLIDES
Feb 2, 2010	Severe Storm	SEVERE WINTER STORMS AND FLOODING
Sep 5, 2005	Hurricane	HURRICANE KATRINA EVACUATION
Sep 18, 2004	Hurricane	HURRICANE IVAN
Sep 10, 2004	Hurricane	TROPICAL STORM FRANCES
Jan 15, 1998	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING
Feb 23, 1996	Snowstorm	WINTER STORM
Jan 13, 1996	Snowstorm	BLIZZARD OF 96
Oct 23, 1995	Flood	SEVERE STORMS, FLOODING, HIGH WINDS

Showing 20 of 22 declarations

Individual Assistance

Source: FEMA Housing Assistance

Total IA Registrations

13,012

Total IA Distributed

$21,184,846

Repair/Replace

$7,939,690

Rental Assistance

$1,033,945

Disaster	Registrations	Total IA $	Avg Damage
DR-4827	12,696	$20,394,301	$796
DR-1553	202	$497,639	$3,232
DR-4487	27	$140,714	—
DR-1546	32	$139,438	$4,982
DR-4617	55	$12,753	$160

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

Flood Insurance (NFIP)

Source: FEMA NFIP

Total Claims

109

Total Claims Paid

$8,768,957

Avg Claim Payout

$80,449

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

Disaster Recovery Spending

Source: FEMA Public Assistance

Total Federal Spending

$46,766,649

Disasters with PA

Total Projects

163

Disaster	Type	Projects	Federal $
DR-4827	Tropical Storm	59	$44,095,001
DR-1871	Severe Storm(s)	13	$1,442,983
DR-1553	Hurricane	49	$720,427
DR-1546	Hurricane	26	$258,462
DR-4146	Flood	11	$124,753
DR-4617	Flood	2	$87,425
DR-4487	Biological	1	$23,329
DR-4393	Hurricane	2	$14,270

Hazard Mitigation

Source: FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance

Mitigation Projects

Federal Funding

$15,000

Avg Benefit-Cost Ratio

0.00

BCR

Top Mitigation Project Types

Project Type	Projects	Federal $
800.1: Miscellaneous	1	$0
91.1: Local Multihazard Mitigation Plan	1	$15,000

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

Mars Hill has a very low overall natural hazard risk rating according to FEMA's National Risk Index. The top hazard risks are landslide, lightning, ice storm. The area has had 22 federal disaster declarations. The most common disaster type is hurricane (9 declarations). 109 flood insurance claims have been filed in the area. FEMA has obligated $46,766,649 in public assistance recovery funding. $21,184,846 has been distributed in individual assistance to disaster-affected residents. 2 hazard mitigation projects have been funded to reduce future risk.