Natural Disasters in Sims, NC

Hazard risk, disaster history, and FEMA data

Natural Hazard Risk

Source: FEMA National Risk Index

Risk Score

76.3

Relatively Low

Expected Annual Loss

72.6

Score (0-100)

Social Vulnerability

61.5

Score (0-100)

Community Resilience

51.6

Score (0-100)

Top Hazard Risks

Winter Weather96.0Hurricane90.4Drought88.3
HazardRisk Score
Winter Weather96.0
Hurricane90.4
Drought88.3
Heat Wave80.1
Hail77.4
Tornado70.2
Earthquake67.7
Ice Storm65.3
Lightning62.1
Strong Wind54.5
Cold Wave54.4
Wildfire40.4
Landslide17.9

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

28

Most Recent

Winter Storm

Jan 2026

Most Common Type

Hurricane

15 declarations

DateTypeDeclaration
Jan 24, 2026Winter StormSEVERE WINTER STORM
Sep 26, 2024Tropical StormHURRICANE HELENE
Aug 6, 2024Tropical StormTROPICAL STORM DEBBY
Oct 1, 2022HurricaneHURRICANE IAN
Mar 3, 2021Severe StormTROPICAL STORM ETA
Aug 2, 2020HurricaneHURRICANE ISAIAS
Mar 25, 2020BiologicalCOVID-19 PANDEMIC
Mar 13, 2020BiologicalCOVID-19
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
Apr 19, 2011Severe StormSEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES, AND FLOODING
Sep 14, 2005HurricaneHURRICANE OPHELIA
Sep 5, 2005HurricaneHURRICANE KATRINA EVACUATION
Sep 18, 2003HurricaneHURRICANE ISABEL
Dec 12, 2002Severe Ice StormSEVERE ICE STORM

Showing 20 of 28 declarations

Individual Assistance

Source: FEMA Housing Assistance

Total IA Registrations

1,723

Total IA Distributed

$2,692,956

Repair/Replace

$335,744

Rental Assistance

$356,696

DisasterRegistrationsTotal IA $Avg Damage
DR-19421N/A—
DR-4487236$1,469,286—
DR-4285666$756,416$614
DR-4019326$187,760$668
DR-1490177$124,201$1,283
DR-4393146$106,455$400
DR-1969153$47,789$4,164
DR-482718$1,050$100

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

Flood Insurance (NFIP)

Source: FEMA NFIP

Total Claims

497

Total Claims Paid

$12,613,921

Avg Claim Payout

$25,380

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

Disaster Recovery Spending

Source: FEMA Public Assistance

Total Federal Spending

$11,031,748

Disasters with PA

10

Total Projects

230

DisasterTypeProjectsFederal $
DR-1292Hurricane104$4,649,919
DR-4285Hurricane31$2,507,941
DR-4019Hurricane22$1,615,717
DR-1490Hurricane33$887,062
DR-4393Hurricane14$553,707
DR-1969Severe Storm(s)14$442,838
DR-4487Biological3$205,717
DR-1448Severe Ice Storm4$143,528
DR-1312Severe Storm(s)4$16,545
DR-4588Tropical Storm1$8,775

Hazard Mitigation

Source: FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance

Mitigation Projects

13

Federal Funding

$16,111,815

Properties Protected

251

Avg Benefit-Cost Ratio

0.56

BCR

Top Mitigation Project Types

Project TypeProjectsFederal $
200.1: Acquisition of Private Real Property (Structures and Land) - Riverine8$8,670,249
91.1: Local Multihazard Mitigation Plan1$7,500
205.8: Retrofitting Public Structures - Wind1$25,500
CRS Plan1$12,602
700.1: Management Costs - Salaries1$352,189

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

Sims has a relatively low overall natural hazard risk rating according to FEMA's National Risk Index. The top hazard risks are winter weather, hurricane, drought. The area has had 28 federal disaster declarations. The most common disaster type is hurricane (15 declarations). 497 flood insurance claims have been filed in the area. FEMA has obligated $11,031,748 in public assistance recovery funding. $2,692,956 has been distributed in individual assistance to disaster-affected residents. 13 hazard mitigation projects have been funded to reduce future risk.