Natural Disasters in Ruth, NC

Hazard risk, disaster history, and FEMA data

Natural Hazard Risk

Source: FEMA National Risk Index

Risk Score

72.7

Relatively Low

Expected Annual Loss

66.3

Score (0-100)

Social Vulnerability

72.5

Score (0-100)

Community Resilience

26.2

Score (0-100)

Top Hazard Risks

Strong Wind97.3Ice Storm91.0Landslide86.0

Hazard	Risk Score
Strong Wind	97.3
Ice Storm	91.0
Landslide	86.0
Lightning	78.9
Earthquake	78.6
Tornado	69.8
Hurricane	66.7
Hail	64.8
Wildfire	63.2
Cold Wave	58.5
Drought	42.7
Heat Wave	38.2
Winter Weather	27.8

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

Most Recent

Winter Storm

Jan 2026

Most Common Type

Hurricane

8 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
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 10, 2018	Hurricane	HURRICANE FLORENCE
Nov 11, 2016	Fire	PARTY ROCK FIRE
Sep 5, 2005	Hurricane	HURRICANE KATRINA EVACUATION
Sep 18, 2004	Hurricane	HURRICANE IVAN
Sep 10, 2004	Hurricane	TROPICAL STORM FRANCES
Dec 12, 2002	Severe Ice Storm	SEVERE ICE STORM
Sep 6, 1996	Hurricane	HURRICANE FRAN
Feb 23, 1996	Snowstorm	WINTER STORM
Jan 13, 1996	Snowstorm	BLIZZARD OF 96
Mar 17, 1993	Snowstorm	SEVERE SNOWFALL & WINTER STORM
May 17, 1989	Tornado	TORNADOES
Nov 9, 1977	Flood	SEVERE STORMS & FLOODING

Showing 20 of 21 declarations

Flood Insurance (NFIP)

Source: FEMA NFIP

Total Claims

117

Total Claims Paid

$7,870,905

Avg Claim Payout

$67,273

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

Disaster Recovery Spending

Source: FEMA Public Assistance

Total Federal Spending

$45,270,133

Disasters with PA

Total Projects

177

Disaster	Type	Projects	Federal $
DR-4827	Tropical Storm	118	$43,440,535
DR-4543	Severe Storm(s)	4	$551,181
DR-4487	Biological	15	$469,971
DR-1553	Hurricane	3	$372,657
DR-1448	Severe Ice Storm	17	$321,088
DR-1546	Hurricane	14	$78,355
DR-4146	Flood	4	$33,995
DR-4153	Flood	2	$2,350

Ruth has a relatively low overall natural hazard risk rating according to FEMA's National Risk Index. The top hazard risks are strong wind, ice storm, landslide. The area has had 21 federal disaster declarations. The most common disaster type is hurricane (8 declarations). 117 flood insurance claims have been filed in the area. FEMA has obligated $45,270,133 in public assistance recovery funding.