riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Clay County Disaster Risk

Clay County, North Carolina

FEMA Risk Rating

Very Low

National Percentile

27th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#94

of 100 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

44th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 44% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 64% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 45% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 48% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 48% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Clay County

Risk Verdict

Clay County has a very low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 27th percentile nationally. This county is among the safer counties in the United States from a natural disaster perspective, though no area is entirely risk-free.

Hazard Breakdown

Wildfire risk is the dominant hazard for Clay County, scoring in the 64th percentile nationally. It is followed by earthquake risk at the 48th percentile. Additional hazards include hurricane (48th), tornado (45th), flood (44th).

Preparedness Context

With wildfire risk as the top concern, Clay County residents should create defensible space around your property, sign up for local emergency alerts, and prepare a go-bag with essential documents and medications. Secondary risks such as earthquake also warrant attention in household and community preparedness planning. FEMA recommends all households maintain at least 72 hours of food, water, and medication supplies regardless of specific hazard exposure.

Regional Context

Clay County is notably safer than the average county in North Carolina. Its composite risk score is 39.8 points lower than the state average, indicating below-average exposure to natural hazards relative to other counties in the state.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Clay County, NC?
Clay County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Very Low, placing it in the 27th percentile nationally out of 3,144 counties. This composite score reflects the county's overall exposure to natural hazards including floods, wildfires, tornadoes, earthquakes, and hurricanes, weighted by expected annual loss and social vulnerability.
What types of natural hazards affect Clay County?
Clay County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: wildfire (64th percentile), earthquake (48th percentile), hurricane (48th percentile), tornado (45th percentile), flooding (44th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is wildfire at the 64th percentile nationally. These scores are derived from FEMA's National Risk Index, which analyzes expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience for each hazard type.
How does Clay County risk compare to the North Carolina average?
Clay County's composite risk percentile is 27th, compared to the North Carolina state average of 67th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Clay County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in North Carolina.
Is Clay County at risk for wildfire?
Yes, Clay County's wildfire risk is at the 64th percentile nationally. This is above the national median. For flooding specifically, Clay County is at the 44th percentile.
How is natural disaster risk measured?
FEMA's National Risk Index (NRI) calculates risk scores for 18 natural hazard types across all U.S. counties and census tracts. The composite score combines Expected Annual Loss (estimated dollar losses from each hazard), Social Vulnerability (demographic factors affecting disaster impact), and Community Resilience (ability to recover). Percentile scores rank each county against all 3,144 U.S. counties, and risk ratings range from Very Low to Very High.
Is Clay County a safe place to live?
Clay County's composite risk score of 27th percentile is below the North Carolina state average of 67th percentile, indicating relatively lower exposure to natural hazards. However, no county is completely risk-free. The primary hazard type is wildfire at the 64th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Madison County

North Carolina

+0.5

Very Low

27th percentile

Mitchell County

North Carolina

-2.9

Very Low

24th percentile

Caswell County

North Carolina

-4.5

Very Low

22th percentile

By Logan Johnson, Founder & Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Logan Johnson, Founder & Data Editor

Data Source

Risk data sourced from the FEMA National Risk Index (NRI). Risk scores are relative rankings (0–100) across all US counties — not absolute risk measures. Higher scores indicate higher relative risk compared to other counties.

Disclaimer: This data is informational only. It is not financial, insurance, or legal advice. Always consult a qualified professional before making insurance or real estate decisions.

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