riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Polk County Disaster Risk

Polk County, North Carolina

FEMA Risk Rating

Very Low

National Percentile

37th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#90

of 100 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

47th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 47% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 43% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 54% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 52% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 61% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Polk County

Risk Verdict

Polk County has a very low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 37th 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

Hurricane risk is the dominant hazard for Polk County, scoring in the 61th percentile nationally. It is followed by tornado risk at the 54th percentile. Additional hazards include earthquake (52th), flood (47th), wildfire (43th).

Preparedness Context

With hurricane risk as the top concern, Polk 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

Polk County is notably safer than the average county in North Carolina. Its composite risk score is 29.8 points lower than the state average, indicating below-average exposure to natural hazards relative to other counties in the state.

Is your home insured against Polk County's risks?

Compare home and flood insurance quotes in minutes.

Get Quotes →

Sponsored

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Polk County, NC?
Polk County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Very Low, placing it in the 37th 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 Polk County?
Polk County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: hurricane (61th percentile), tornado (54th percentile), earthquake (52th percentile), flooding (47th percentile), wildfire (43th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is hurricane at the 61th 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 Polk County risk compare to the North Carolina average?
Polk County's composite risk percentile is 37th, compared to the North Carolina state average of 67th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Polk County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in North Carolina.
Is Polk County at risk for hurricane?
Yes, Polk County's hurricane risk is at the 61th percentile nationally. This is above the national median. For flooding specifically, Polk County is at the 47th 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 Polk County a safe place to live?
Polk County's composite risk score of 37th 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 61th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Perquimans County

North Carolina

+0.7

Very Low

38th percentile

Yadkin County

North Carolina

+1.4

Very Low

38th percentile

Alleghany County

North Carolina

-2.3

Very Low

35th 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.

Explore more data for Polk County

Property TaxCost of LivingCrime RateIncomeHealthSchoolsWater QualityWeatherCounty Score