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Natural hazard risk in Gaston County, North Carolina

Updated October 30, 2026. Based on FEMA, NOAA and OpenFEMA data. Published by Humblebee.

FEMA overall Risk Index rating: Relatively Moderate (score 84.8 of 100)[5]

Expected annual loss (FEMA)
$59.3 million[1]
Federal disaster declarations since 1974
18[2]
NFIP flood claims paid, 1978 to 2026
$1.3 million[3]
Tornadoes recorded, 1950 to 2024
19[4]

FEMA's National Risk Index rates overall natural hazard risk in Gaston County, North Carolina as Relatively Moderate compared with other US counties[5]. The hazards with the highest FEMA scores within the county are ice storm, strong wind and tornado[6].

FEMA risk ratings for each hazard

Ratings and expected losses from the FEMA National Risk Index. Each rating compares this county with all US counties for that hazard, from Very Low to Very High. They are planning estimates, not predictions, and they do not describe any single property.

FEMA rates the overall Risk Index for Gaston County Relatively Moderate, with a score of 84.8 out of 100[5]. FEMA's National Risk Index estimates Expected Annual Loss from all 18 natural hazards at $59.3 million a year[1]. By FEMA's estimates, the largest parts of that loss come from inland flooding, tornado and strong wind, in that order[7]. Expected Annual Loss is FEMA's estimate of average yearly loss, and FEMA says the index does not predict next year's damage[8]. FEMA rates Social Vulnerability Relatively Low[9] and Community Resilience Relatively Moderate[10].

Hazards sorted by FEMA hazard-type Risk Index score, highest first
HazardFEMA risk ratingExpected annual loss
Ice StormVery High$2.7 million[11]
Strong WindRelatively High$3.4 million[12]
TornadoRelatively High$8.4 million[13]
LightningRelatively High$1.4 million[14]
Inland FloodingRelatively Moderate$36.3 million[15]
EarthquakeRelatively Low$3.2 million[16]
HurricaneRelatively Low$653,000[17]
HailRelatively Low$562,000[18]
Heat WaveRelatively Low$915,000[19]
Cold WaveRelatively Low$1.6 million[20]
Winter WeatherRelatively Low$93,000[21]
LandslideVery Low$2,403[22]
WildfireVery Low$46,000[23]
DroughtRelatively Low$63,000[24]

Rated Not Applicable by FEMA for this county: avalanche, coastal flooding, tsunami, volcanic activity[25].

Social vulnerability and community resilience

FEMA uses these two ratings to scale expected losses into the Risk Index.

FEMA measureRatingScore
Social vulnerabilityRelatively Low29.0[9]
Community resilienceRelatively Moderate51.3[10]

Flooding and flood insurance

FEMA rates inland flooding risk Relatively Moderate for Gaston County, with Expected Annual Loss of $36.3 million a year[15]. OpenFEMA data as of 2026-08-03 show 188 flood insurance contracts on 410 residential structures inside FEMA's mapped Special Flood Hazard Area, a penetration rate of 45.9%[26]. OpenFEMA lists 105 NFIP claims for losses in the county from 1978 to 2026, and NFIP paid $1.3 million in total[3]. To learn about a specific address, use FEMA's Flood Map Service Center[27].

Measure Value
Inland Flooding, FEMA risk rating[15] Relatively Moderate, $36.3 million expected loss a year
NFIP residential flood policies in force (2026)[26] 313 of 85,407 homes
Homes in FEMA's mapped high-risk flood area (SFHA)[26] 410, of which 188 insured
NFIP flood claims, 1978 to 2026[3] 105 filed, $1.3 million paid

Is a specific address in a flood zone? Only FEMA's flood maps answer that, property by property[27]. This page describes the whole county.

Search an address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center

Disaster declarations and tornado records

OpenFEMA lists 18 federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Gaston County since 1974[2]. The most recent is a severe winter storm emergency declared 2026-01-24[28]. NOAA's tornado database records 19 tornadoes touching the county from 1950 to 2024, and the strongest were rated EF2[4].

Federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Gaston County, since 1974
Incident type Declarations
Hurricane[2] 7
Snowstorm[2] 4
Tropical Storm[2] 2
Severe Ice Storm[2] 1
Winter Storm[2] 1
Tornado[2] 1
Drought[2] 1
Severe Storm[2] 1
Most recent declarations
Declaration Incident Declared
EM-3637-NC[28] Severe Winter Storm 2026-01-24
DR-4827-NC[28] Tropical Storm Helene 2024-09-28
EM-3617-NC[28] Hurricane Helene 2024-09-26
EM-3586-NC[28] Hurricane Ian 2022-10-01
EM-3534-NC[28] Hurricane Isaias 2020-08-02

How to prepare

Steps from Ready.gov, FEMA's preparedness site, for the hazards with the highest FEMA ratings here. Follow instructions from local officials and the National Weather Service when a warning is issued.

Winter storms and cold

Before

  • Insulate your home and learn how to keep pipes from freezing.
  • Install and test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors with battery backup.
  • Keep several days of supplies in case the power goes out, including medication and pet needs.
  • Put an emergency kit in your car with jumper cables, sand, blankets, water and snacks, and keep the tank full.

During

  • Under a winter storm warning, find shelter right away.
  • Stay off the roads if you can. If you are stuck in your car, stay inside it.
  • Run generators and grills only outdoors, away from windows, and never heat your home with an oven or stove.

Source: Ready.gov, winter storms and cold

Tornadoes

Before

  • Learn the warning signs: a rotating funnel cloud, an approaching cloud of debris or a loud roar like a freight train.
  • Sign up for community warning systems and learn what your local sirens sound like.
  • Pick a safe spot, such as a safe room built to FEMA criteria or an ICC 500 storm shelter, and practice getting there.
  • Include your pets in the household emergency plan.
  • Keep supplies, food, water and medication in case you have to stay home for a long time.

During

  • Go right away to the safe place you picked in advance.
  • Protect your head and neck with your arms and stay away from windows, doors and outside walls.
  • No place in a car is fully safe. If you can get lower than the road, leave the car and lie down there.

Source: Ready.gov, tornadoes

Floods

Before

  • Check your flood risk with FEMA's Flood Map Service Center, and remember that floods do not follow map lines.
  • Sign up for your community's warning system. NOAA Weather Radio also broadcasts alerts.
  • Buy flood insurance through the NFIP well before a disaster. Homeowners policies do not cover flooding, and a new policy typically takes up to 30 days to go into effect.
  • Make a household plan with evacuation routes, shelter locations and what to do in a flash flood.
  • Keep important documents in a waterproof container and make password-protected digital copies.

During

  • If you are told to evacuate, leave right away and never drive around barricades.
  • Do not walk, swim or drive through floodwater. Six inches of moving water can knock you down.
  • If you are trapped in a building, go to the highest level, but do not climb into a closed attic.

Source: Ready.gov, floods

Questions people ask

Is Gaston County at risk of flooding?
FEMA rates inland flooding risk Relatively Moderate for Gaston County compared with other US counties[15]. FEMA estimates inland flooding makes up the largest part of expected annual loss[7].
Does Gaston County get tornadoes?
NOAA's tornado database records 19 tornadoes touching Gaston County from 1950 to 2024[4]. FEMA rates tornado risk Relatively High compared with other US counties[13].
Is Gaston County at risk of earthquakes or wildfire?
FEMA rates earthquake risk Relatively Low[16] and wildfire risk Very Low for Gaston County compared with other US counties[23].
How many disasters have been declared in Gaston County?
OpenFEMA lists 18 federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Gaston County since 1974[2].
How do I check my flood zone?
Look up your address in FEMA's Flood Map Service Center or ask the local floodplain manager[27].

Facts and sources

  1. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): Expected Annual Loss from all 18 natural hazards in Gaston County is $59.3 million a year (Expected Annual Loss rating Relatively Moderate, score 85.9). Of this, buildings account for $46.0 million, injuries and deaths (converted to dollars by FEMA) for $13.1... FEMA National Risk Index
  2. OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries list 18 federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Gaston County since 1974 (8 major disaster, 10 emergency or fire management). By incident type: hurricane 7, snowstorm 4, tropical storm 2, severe ice storm 1, winter storm 1, tornado 1, drought 1, severe... OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations
  3. HazardFacts tally of OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims (losses from 1978 to 2026): 105 National Flood Insurance Program claims were filed for losses in Gaston County, 62 of them with a payment, and NFIP paid $1.3 million in total (building, contents and increased cost of compliance, in dollars of the year paid). Years... OpenFEMA NFIP claims
  4. NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database (1950 to 2024): 19 recorded tornadoes touched Gaston County. The strongest were rated EF2 (most recent of them on 2020-02-06). 0 were rated F3/EF3 or stronger. The most recent recorded tornado was on 2024-05-08. Ratings used the Fujita scale until early 2007 and the... NOAA Storm Prediction Center
  5. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): the overall natural hazard Risk Index rating for Gaston County is Relatively Moderate, with a Risk Index score of 84.8 out of 100. The score is the county's percentile rank among all US counties. FEMA National Risk Index
  6. Among the 18 hazards in the FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), the hazards with the highest hazard-type Risk Index scores for Gaston County are ice storm (97.5, Very High), strong wind (95.2, Relatively High), tornado (91.0, Relatively High). HazardFacts sorted FEMA's published scores; FEMA's... FEMA National Risk Index
  7. HazardFacts sorted FEMA's hazard-type Expected Annual Loss values for Gaston County (National Risk Index v1.20): the largest are inland flooding ($36.3 million a year), tornado ($8.4 million a year), strong wind ($3.4 million a year), out of $59.3 million a year from all 18 hazards. FEMA National Risk Index
  8. FEMA's National Risk Index FAQ (December 2025): Expected Annual Loss is FEMA's estimate of the average economic loss in dollars from natural hazards each year. The index is not meant to predict how much damage a community will have in the next year, and a hazard can still cause damage where a rating is low. Scores... FEMA National Risk Index documentation
  9. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): Social Vulnerability rating for Gaston County is Relatively Low (score 29.0). FEMA describes social vulnerability as how susceptible social groups are to the harm natural hazards cause. FEMA National Risk Index
  10. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): Community Resilience rating for Gaston County is Relatively Moderate (score 51.3). FEMA describes community resilience as a community's ability to prepare for, withstand and recover from hazards. FEMA National Risk Index
  11. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), ice storm in Gaston County: Risk Index rating Very High (score 97.5 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $2.7 million a year (rating Very High). Annualized frequency 2.12 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 68 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  12. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), strong wind in Gaston County: Risk Index rating Relatively High (score 95.2 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $3.4 million a year (rating Relatively High). Annualized frequency 2.74 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 38 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  13. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), tornado in Gaston County: Risk Index rating Relatively High (score 91.0 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $8.4 million a year (rating Relatively High). Annualized frequency 0.19 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 38 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  14. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), lightning in Gaston County: Risk Index rating Relatively High (score 90.8 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $1.4 million a year (rating Relatively High). Annualized frequency 52.17 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 24 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  15. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), inland flooding in Gaston County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 88.5 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $36.3 million a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 0.93 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of... FEMA National Risk Index
  16. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), earthquake in Gaston County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 85.8 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $3.2 million a year (rating Relatively Moderate). FEMA's modeled annual frequency is 0.0019 events per year. FEMA National Risk Index
  17. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), hurricane in Gaston County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 70.2 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $653,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). Annualized frequency 0.07 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 172 years for the... FEMA National Risk Index
  18. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), hail in Gaston County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 68.4 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $562,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). Annualized frequency 5.08 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 37 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  19. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), heat wave in Gaston County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 68.3 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $915,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). Annualized frequency 2.05 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 18 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  20. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), cold wave in Gaston County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 60.7 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $1.6 million a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 0.32 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 18 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  21. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), winter weather in Gaston County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 58.4 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $93,000 a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 5.37 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 18 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  22. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), landslide in Gaston County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 57.1 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $2,403 a year (rating Very Low). FEMA National Risk Index
  23. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), wildfire in Gaston County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 48.2 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $46,000 a year (rating Very Low). FEMA's modeled annual frequency is 0.0001 events per year. FEMA National Risk Index
  24. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), drought in Gaston County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 38.5 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $63,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). Annualized frequency 26.97 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 22 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  25. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025) rates these hazards Not Applicable for Gaston County: avalanche, coastal flooding, tsunami, volcanic activity. FEMA uses Not Applicable when its source data has no historical record of the hazard in the community and the hazard is not considered geographically... FEMA National Risk Index documentation
  26. NFIP Residential Penetration Rates (OpenFEMA, as of 2026-08-03): 313 residential flood insurance contracts were in force in Gaston County, out of 85,407 residential structures, a penetration rate of 0.4%. Inside FEMA's mapped Special Flood Hazard Area there were 410 residential structures and 188 contracts, a rate... OpenFEMA NFIP penetration rates
  27. FEMA's Flood Map Service Center is the official public source for flood maps (Flood Insurance Rate Maps) produced under the National Flood Insurance Program. Flood zones apply to specific properties: look up an address there or ask the local floodplain manager. County-level ratings do not tell you the flood zone of... FEMA Flood Map Service Center
  28. Most recent federal disaster declarations for natural hazards (table on this page). OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations

FEMA's National Risk Index compares each county with all other US counties. Ratings are relative (Very Low to Very High), not a measure of safety. Never call a place safe, unsafe, good or bad to live in. Risk Index and Expected Annual Loss values are FEMA estimates for planning. They do not predict next year's losses and do not apply to a single property. Flood zones are set by FEMA flood maps for specific properties. County ratings and flood insurance counts do not tell anyone whether an address is in a flood zone. Disaster declaration, NFIP and tornado counts are records of the past for this county only. Do not compare with other counties unless a fact does.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), National Risk Index Dataset: National Risk Index Counties, v1.20 (December 2025). Retrieved from fema.maps.arcgis.com on October 30, 2026. This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's National Risk Index dataset API or downloadable datasets but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s). This product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA.