Natural Disasters in Salem, NC
Hazard risk, disaster history, and FEMA data
Natural Hazard Risk
Source: FEMA National Risk IndexRisk Score
70.2
Relatively Low
Expected Annual Loss
65.0
Score (0-100)
Social Vulnerability
67.8
Score (0-100)
Community Resilience
30.9
Score (0-100)
Scores range from 0 (lowest risk) to 100 (highest risk) relative to all U.S. communities. Data from FEMA National Risk Index.
Disaster History & Federal Spending
Source: FEMATotal Declarations
23
Public Assistance
$13.3M
Individual Assistance
$20.3M
Most Common Type
Hurricane
8 declarations
| Disaster | Type | Date | PA $ | IA $ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Severe Winter Storm → | Winter Storm | Jan 2026 | — | — |
| Tropical Storm Helene → | Tropical Storm | Sep 2024 | $12.4M | $18.9M |
| Hurricane Ian → | Hurricane | Oct 2022 | — | — |
| Tropical Storm Eta → | Severe Storm | Mar 2021 | $296K | — |
| Hurricane Isaias → | Hurricane | Aug 2020 | — | — |
| Covid-19 Pandemic → | Biological | Mar 2020 | — | $1.1M |
| Covid-19 → | Biological | Mar 2020 | — | — |
| Hurricane Dorian → | Hurricane | Sep 2019 | — | — |
| Hurricane Florence → | Hurricane | Sep 2018 | — | — |
| Chestnut Knob Fire → | Fire | Nov 2016 | — | — |
| Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides → | Flood | Sep 2013 | $90K | — |
| Severe Winter Storms and Flooding → | Severe Storm | Feb 2010 | $71K | — |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation → | Hurricane | Sep 2005 | — | — |
| Hurricane Ivan → | Hurricane | Sep 2004 | $27K | $37K |
| Tropical Storm Frances → | Hurricane | Sep 2004 | $306K | $286K |
| Severe Ice Storm → | Severe Ice Storm | Dec 2002 | $111K | — |
| Winter Storm → | Snowstorm | Feb 1996 | — | — |
| Blizzard of 96 → | Snowstorm | Jan 1996 | — | — |
| Severe Snowfall & Winter Storm → | Snowstorm | Mar 1993 | — | — |
| Hurricane Hugo → | Hurricane | Sep 1989 | — | — |
Showing 20 of 23 disasters
PA = FEMA Public Assistance (infrastructure recovery). IA = Individual Assistance (homeowner/renter aid).
Flood Insurance (NFIP)
Source: FEMA NFIPTotal Claims
131
Total Claims Paid
$11,304,261
Avg Claim Payout
$86,292
County-level NFIP data from FEMA National Flood Insurance Program.
Hazard Mitigation
Source: FEMA Hazard Mitigation AssistanceMitigation Projects
6
Federal Funding
$109,600
Avg Benefit-Cost Ratio
0.34
BCR
Top Mitigation Project Types
| Project Type | Projects | Federal $ |
|---|---|---|
| 601.1: Generators | 6 | $109,600 |
Federally funded projects to reduce future disaster risk. Only includes completed or obligated projects.
Salem has a relatively low overall natural hazard risk rating according to FEMA's National Risk Index. The top hazard risks are ice storm, lightning, landslide. The area has had 23 federal disaster declarations. The most common disaster type is hurricane (8 declarations). 131 flood insurance claims have been filed in the area. FEMA has obligated $13,287,147 in public assistance recovery funding. $20,302,124 has been distributed in individual assistance to disaster-affected residents. 6 hazard mitigation projects have been funded to reduce future risk.