riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Cleveland County Disaster Risk

Cleveland County, North Carolina

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Low

National Percentile

70th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#53

of 100 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

75th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 75% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Very Low

Higher than 41% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 80% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Moderate

Higher than 82% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 74% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Cleveland County

Risk Verdict

Cleveland County shows a relatively low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 70th percentile nationally. The county faces moderate hazard exposure relative to other U.S. counties. Standard emergency preparedness is recommended, with attention to the specific hazards that dominate locally.

Hazard Breakdown

Earthquake risk is the dominant hazard for Cleveland County, scoring in the 82th percentile nationally. It is followed by tornado risk at the 80th percentile. Additional hazards include flood (75th), hurricane (74th), wildfire (41th).

Preparedness Context

With earthquake risk as the top concern, Cleveland County residents should secure heavy furniture and appliances, know how to shut off utilities, and keep emergency supplies accessible. Secondary risks such as tornado 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

Cleveland County has a disaster risk profile close to the average county in North Carolina. Its composite risk score is within 3.3 points of the state average, meaning its overall hazard exposure is broadly representative of North Carolina as a whole.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Cleveland County, NC?
Cleveland County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Low, placing it in the 70th 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 Cleveland County?
Cleveland County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: earthquake (82th percentile), tornado (80th percentile), flooding (75th percentile), hurricane (74th percentile), wildfire (41th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is earthquake at the 82th 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 Cleveland County risk compare to the North Carolina average?
Cleveland County's composite risk percentile is 70th, compared to the North Carolina state average of 67th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Cleveland County faces higher natural disaster risk than the typical county in North Carolina.
Is Cleveland County at risk for earthquake?
Yes, Cleveland County's earthquake risk is at the 82th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Cleveland County is at the 75th 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.
Why is Cleveland County higher risk than average?
Cleveland County's composite risk score of 70th percentile is above the North Carolina state average of 67th percentile. This elevated risk is driven by earthquake exposure (82th percentile), along with tornado and flooding and hurricane risk. Geographic location, terrain, climate patterns, and proximity to flood zones or fault lines all influence a county's risk profile.

Counties with Similar Risk

Burke County

North Carolina

+0.2

Relatively Low

70th percentile

Watauga County

North Carolina

+1.8

Relatively Low

72th percentile

Hertford County

North Carolina

-1.8

Relatively Low

68th 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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