Gates County, NC
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Gates County has experienced 22 federally declared disasters since 1984, most recently Severe Winter Storm in 2026. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Gates County's highest-rated hazards are hurricane, drought, and strong wind, with its top risk rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA's National Risk Index.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Gates County has been designated in 22 declarations since 1984, covering 6 disaster types including hurricane (14), biological (2), tropical storm (2).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2024 | Tropical Storm | Tropical Storm Debby |
| 2024 | Tropical Storm | Hurricane Helene |
| 2023 | Hurricane | Hurricane Ian |
| 2020 | Hurricane | Hurricane Isaias |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2019 | Hurricane | Hurricane Dorian |
| 2018 | Hurricane | Hurricane Florence |
| 2017 | Hurricane | Hurricane Matthew |
Showing the 10 most recent of 22 total declarations since 1984.
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries. A single disaster can produce more than one record per county. Data current through September 2026.
Risk by hazard type
| Hazard | Risk rating | Risk score | Recorded events | Deaths | Prop. damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | Very Low | 13 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Very Low | 13.8 | 10 | 1 | $500K |
| Coastal Flooding | Very Low | 40.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 28.1 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 30.4 | 2 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Very Low | 22.3 | 1 | 0 | $100K |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | 77.9 | 1 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Very Low | 22.2 | 5 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 55.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 53.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 19 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 15.1 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 28.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Low | 56.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 5.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Tsunami | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Volcanic Activity | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
Scores are 0–100 percentiles relative to all US counties — higher means more exposed, not that a disaster is likely this year. Event counts: NOAA Storm Events 2016–2026; earthquake counts from USGS ComCat (M3.0+, 1996–2026). See the methodology page for details.
Community vulnerability
Gates County ranks in the 41st percentile (Low) for community vulnerability — a measure of how hard disaster impacts tend to hit residents. Higher vulnerability means more displacement, worse health outcomes, and slower recovery after a disaster.
| SVI theme | Percentile | Vulnerability level |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 41st | Low |
| Socioeconomic status | 58th | Moderate |
| Household characteristics | 52nd | Moderate |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 75th | High |
| Housing type & transportation | 6th | Very low |
Source: CDC/ATSDR Social Vulnerability Index 2022. Percentiles compare counties nationally — higher means more vulnerable relative to other counties. See CDC SVI for full methodology.
Future risk outlook
| Wildfire metric | National percentile | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Burn probability | 39th | Relatively Low |
| Risk to homes | 39th | Relatively Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 85.1% | — |
Wildfire: USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (RDS-2020-0016-2) — modeled values, not annual forecasts. See wildfirerisk.org. Inland flood and heat projections pending data availability; coastal sea-level projections are available for select coastal counties below — see the data page.
Nearby counties
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards pose the greatest risk in Gates County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Gates County, North Carolina are hurricane, drought, and strong wind. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Gates County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Gates County has received 22 federal disaster declarations since 1984, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is hurricane (14 declarations).
Has Gates County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Gates County include Severe Winter Storm (2026), Tropical Storm Debby (2024), Hurricane Helene (2024). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1984.
How does Gates County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Hertford County, NC has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Franklin, VA has the lowest (Very Low). Gates County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Gates County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Gates County's composite disaster risk index — officially FEMA's National Risk Index (NRI) — scores every US county on a 0–100 percentile scale across 18 natural hazard types, factoring in expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience. Gates County's composite score of 11 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 11% of US counties.