riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Montgomery County Disaster Risk

Montgomery County, North Carolina

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Low

National Percentile

49th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#78

of 100 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

56th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 56% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 45% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 66% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 55% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Moderate

Higher than 84% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Montgomery County

Risk Verdict

Montgomery County shows a relatively low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 49th 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

Hurricane risk is the dominant hazard for Montgomery County, scoring in the 84th percentile nationally. It is followed by tornado risk at the 66th percentile. Additional hazards include flood (56th), earthquake (55th), wildfire (45th).

Preparedness Context

With hurricane risk as the top concern, Montgomery County residents should know your evacuation route, stockpile supplies for at least 72 hours, and review your homeowners and flood insurance policies annually. 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

Montgomery County is notably safer than the average county in North Carolina. Its composite risk score is 17.8 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 Montgomery County, NC?
Montgomery County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Low, placing it in the 49th 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 Montgomery County?
Montgomery County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: hurricane (84th percentile), tornado (66th percentile), flooding (56th percentile), earthquake (55th percentile), wildfire (45th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is hurricane at the 84th 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 Montgomery County risk compare to the North Carolina average?
Montgomery County's composite risk percentile is 49th, compared to the North Carolina state average of 67th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Montgomery County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in North Carolina.
Is Montgomery County at risk for hurricane?
Yes, Montgomery County's hurricane risk is at the 84th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Montgomery County is at the 56th 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 Montgomery County a safe place to live?
Montgomery County's composite risk score of 49th 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 hurricane at the 84th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Swain County

North Carolina

+0.2

Relatively Low

49th percentile

Vance County

North Carolina

-0.6

Relatively Low

48th percentile

Anson County

North Carolina

+1.0

Relatively Low

50th 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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