riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Transylvania County Disaster Risk

Transylvania County, North Carolina

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Low

National Percentile

64th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#63

of 100 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

67th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 67% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 44% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 53% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 62% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 60% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Transylvania County

Risk Verdict

Transylvania County shows a relatively low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 64th 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

Flood risk is the dominant hazard for Transylvania County, scoring in the 67th percentile nationally. It is followed by earthquake risk at the 62th percentile. Additional hazards include hurricane (60th), tornado (53th), wildfire (44th).

Preparedness Context

With flood risk as the top concern, Transylvania County residents should review flood insurance needs (standard home insurance does not cover flood damage), know your evacuation zone, and keep important documents waterproofed. 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

Transylvania County has a disaster risk profile close to the average county in North Carolina. Its composite risk score is within 2.5 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 Transylvania County, NC?
Transylvania County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Low, placing it in the 64th 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 Transylvania County?
Transylvania County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: flooding (67th percentile), earthquake (62th percentile), hurricane (60th percentile), tornado (53th percentile), wildfire (44th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is flooding at the 67th 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 Transylvania County risk compare to the North Carolina average?
Transylvania County's composite risk percentile is 64th, compared to the North Carolina state average of 67th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Transylvania County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in North Carolina.
Is Transylvania County at risk for flooding?
Yes, Transylvania County's flooding risk is at the 67th percentile nationally. This is above the national median.
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 Transylvania County a safe place to live?
Transylvania County's composite risk score of 64th 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 flooding at the 67th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Jones County

North Carolina

+0.3

Relatively Low

65th percentile

Scotland County

North Carolina

-0.6

Relatively Low

64th percentile

Martin County

North Carolina

+1.2

Relatively Low

65th 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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