North Carolina natural disasters & FEMA declarations
NC · 23rd most declarations of 51 states/DC
North Carolina has had 85 federally declared disasters since 1955, the 23rd most of any US state or DC. Its most common hazard is Hurricane (34 declarations, about 40% of the total). The most recent declaration was "Severe Winter Storm" (Winter Storm), on Jan 24, 2026.
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Declarations by hazard type
These are the distinct FEMA disaster declarations for North Carolina, grouped by their primary incident type. A single declaration can affect many counties; each is counted once here.
| Hazard / incident type | Declarations | Share of state total |
|---|---|---|
| Hurricane | 34 | 40% |
| Severe Storm | 11 | 13% |
| Fire | 10 | 12% |
| Flood | 8 | 9% |
| Tropical Storm | 4 | 5% |
| Severe Ice Storm | 4 | 5% |
| Snowstorm | 4 | 5% |
| Tornado | 4 | 5% |
| Biological | 2 | 2% |
| Winter Storm | 1 | 1% |
| Tropical Depression | 1 | 1% |
| Mud/Landslide | 1 | 1% |
| Drought | 1 | 1% |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Declarations by program type
FEMA issues several kinds of declaration. Major Disaster (DR) declarations unlock the widest assistance; Emergency (EM) declarations are more limited; and Fire Management Assistance (FM) grants help fight large wildfires.
| Declaration type | Declarations |
|---|---|
| Major Disaster (DR) | 57 |
| Emergency (EM) | 18 |
| Fire Management Assistance (FM) | 10 |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Declarations by decade
How North Carolina's declaration count has changed over time. Earlier decades reflect both fewer disasters and a narrower federal declaration program; recent decades are the most complete.
| Decade | Declarations |
|---|---|
| 1950s | 4 |
| 1960s | 4 |
| 1970s | 6 |
| 1980s | 6 |
| 1990s | 14 |
| 2000s | 11 |
| 2010s | 20 |
| 2020s | 20 |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Most recent declarations
| Date | Title | Type | FEMA ID |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 24, 2026 | Severe Winter Storm | Winter Storm | EM-3637-NC |
| Sep 11, 2025 | Tropical Depression Chantal | Tropical Depression | DR-4889-NC |
| May 3, 2025 | Sunset Drive Fire | Fire | FM-5582-NC |
| Apr 20, 2025 | Sam Davis Road Fire | Fire | FM-5580-NC |
| Mar 27, 2025 | Table Rock Fire | Fire | FM-5578-NC |
| Mar 26, 2025 | Alarka Fire | Fire | FM-5577-NC |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Notable earthquakes in or near North Carolina
No magnitude-6.0+ earthquakes are attributed to North Carolina in the USGS catalog used here. That does not mean the state has zero seismic risk — smaller earthquakes occur in most states. See our earthquake risk by region guide.
Frequently asked questions
How many federally declared disasters has North Carolina had?
North Carolina has had 85 distinct FEMA disaster declarations since 1955, the 23rd most of any US state or DC, according to FEMA's Disaster Declarations Summaries.
What is the most common disaster in North Carolina?
The most common federally declared disaster type in North Carolina is "Hurricane", with 34 declarations — about 40% of the state's total.
When was the most recent disaster declaration in North Carolina?
The most recent FEMA declaration in North Carolina in this snapshot was "Severe Winter Storm" (Winter Storm), declared Jan 24, 2026.
Related
Source & notes
Disaster data from OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2; earthquake data from USGS Earthquake Hazards Program (FDSN event service). Both are US public domain. Counts are distinct declarations (a declaration affecting many counties is counted once). HazardMap is not affiliated with or endorsed by FEMA or USGS; this is general information, not safety or insurance advice. Verify with official sources.
Last updated: 2026-06-18