Natural Disasters in West Jefferson, NC

Hazard risk, disaster history, and FEMA data

Natural Hazard Risk

Source: FEMA National Risk Index

Risk Score

66.8

Relatively Low

Expected Annual Loss

56.5

Score (0-100)

Social Vulnerability

84.9

Score (0-100)

Community Resilience

33.3

Score (0-100)

Top Hazard Risks

Landslide93.5Cold Wave82.7Strong Wind82.2

Hazard	Risk Score
Landslide	93.5
Cold Wave	82.7
Strong Wind	82.2
Drought	71.3
Ice Storm	69.0
Hurricane	63.5
Lightning	53.5
Earthquake	52.8
Wildfire	47.9
Winter Weather	47.0
Tornado	39.8
Hail	32.5

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

10 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
Mar 3, 2021	Severe Storm	TROPICAL STORM ETA
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
Oct 29, 2013	Flood	SEVERE STORMS, FLOODING, LANDSLIDES, MUDSLIDES
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

Showing 20 of 25 declarations

Individual Assistance

Source: FEMA Housing Assistance

Total IA Registrations

3,400

Total IA Distributed

$12,022,777

Repair/Replace

$6,816,132

Rental Assistance

$299,034

Disaster	Registrations	Total IA $	Avg Damage
DR-4617	1	N/A	—
DR-4827	3,299	$11,597,304	$5,884
DR-4487	60	$383,696	—
DR-1553	30	$22,312	$883
DR-1546	10	$19,465	$1,995

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

Flood Insurance (NFIP)

Source: FEMA NFIP

Total Claims

183

Total Claims Paid

$7,336,924

Avg Claim Payout

$40,092

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

Disaster Recovery Spending

Source: FEMA Public Assistance

Total Federal Spending

$9,852,480

Disasters with PA

Total Projects

110

Disaster	Type	Projects	Federal $
DR-4827	Tropical Storm	84	$9,255,957
DR-1553	Hurricane	7	$218,164
DR-1871	Severe Storm(s)	7	$167,906
DR-4487	Biological	5	$83,741
DR-4393	Hurricane	3	$66,808
DR-4146	Flood	1	$47,559
DR-1546	Hurricane	2	$7,845
DR-4543	Severe Storm(s)	1	$4,500

Hazard Mitigation

Source: FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance

Mitigation Projects

Federal Funding

$220,360

Avg Benefit-Cost Ratio

0.30

BCR

Top Mitigation Project Types

Project Type	Projects	Federal $
91.1: Local Multihazard Mitigation Plan	3	$75,000
800.1: Miscellaneous	1	$0
300.2: Vegetation Management - Wildfire	1	$145,360

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

West Jefferson has a relatively low overall natural hazard risk rating according to FEMA's National Risk Index. The top hazard risks are landslide, cold wave, strong wind. The area has had 25 federal disaster declarations. The most common disaster type is hurricane (10 declarations). 183 flood insurance claims have been filed in the area. FEMA has obligated $9,852,480 in public assistance recovery funding. $12,022,777 has been distributed in individual assistance to disaster-affected residents. 5 hazard mitigation projects have been funded to reduce future risk.