Natural Disasters in Spruce Pine, NC

Hazard risk, disaster history, and FEMA data

Natural Hazard Risk

Source: FEMA National Risk Index

Risk Score

24.0

Very Low

Expected Annual Loss

21.6

Score (0-100)

Social Vulnerability

61.5

Score (0-100)

Community Resilience

50.7

Score (0-100)

Top Hazard Risks

Landslide94.5Lightning83.8Ice Storm68.3

Hazard	Risk Score
Landslide	94.5
Lightning	83.8
Ice Storm	68.3
Cold Wave	55.6
Hurricane	52.6
Earthquake	42.2
Wildfire	33.4
Tornado	26.6
Strong Wind	25.5
Winter Weather	22.9
Hail	13.6

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
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 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
Jan 13, 1996	Snowstorm	BLIZZARD OF 96
Oct 23, 1995	Flood	SEVERE STORMS, FLOODING, HIGH WINDS
Mar 17, 1993	Snowstorm	SEVERE SNOWFALL & WINTER STORM
Nov 9, 1977	Flood	SEVERE STORMS & FLOODING

Individual Assistance

Source: FEMA Housing Assistance

Total IA Registrations

6,634

Total IA Distributed

$20,556,215

Repair/Replace

$10,773,597

Rental Assistance

$396,030

Disaster	Registrations	Total IA $	Avg Damage
DR-4019	1	N/A	—
DR-4827	6,164	$19,587,127	$4,692
DR-1553	312	$428,235	$2,961
DR-4487	61	$356,790	—
DR-1546	96	$184,063	$6,616

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

Flood Insurance (NFIP)

Source: FEMA NFIP

Total Claims

Total Claims Paid

$2,663,618

Avg Claim Payout

$53,272

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

Disaster Recovery Spending

Source: FEMA Public Assistance

Total Federal Spending

$29,045,266

Disasters with PA

Total Projects

151

Disaster	Type	Projects	Federal $
DR-4827	Tropical Storm	88	$28,534,355
DR-1553	Hurricane	25	$270,199
DR-4487	Biological	17	$107,172
DR-4146	Flood	3	$56,289
DR-1546	Hurricane	10	$39,300
DR-1871	Severe Storm(s)	8	$37,951

Hazard Mitigation

Source: FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance

Mitigation Projects

Federal Funding

$893,142

Properties Protected

Avg Benefit-Cost Ratio

0.17

BCR

Top Mitigation Project Types

Project Type	Projects	Federal $
200.1: Acquisition of Private Real Property (Structures and Land) - Riverine	4	$621,529
200.3: Acquisition of Public Real Property (Structures and Land) - Riverine	2	$271,613

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

Spruce Pine 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 20 federal disaster declarations. The most common disaster type is hurricane (8 declarations). 50 flood insurance claims have been filed in the area. FEMA has obligated $29,045,266 in public assistance recovery funding. $20,556,215 has been distributed in individual assistance to disaster-affected residents. 6 hazard mitigation projects have been funded to reduce future risk.