Hertford County, NC
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Hertford County has experienced 28 federally declared disasters since 1968, most recently Severe Winter Storm in 2026. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Hertford County's highest-rated hazards are hurricane, drought, and winter weather, with its top risk rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Community vulnerability is elevated (94th percentile nationally), suggesting residents may face greater difficulty recovering from major disasters.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Hertford County has been designated in 28 declarations since 1968, covering 8 disaster types including hurricane (16), severe storm (3), biological (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 |
| 2021 | Severe Storm | Tropical Storm Eta |
| 2021 | Hurricane | Hurricane Isaias |
| 2020 | Hurricane | Hurricane Isaias |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2019 | Hurricane | Hurricane Dorian |
Showing the 10 most recent of 28 total declarations since 1968.
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 | 31.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 50.9 | 7 | 0 | $250K |
| Coastal Flooding | Very Low | 39.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 53.9 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 62.4 | 2 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 47.6 | 3 | 0 | $45K |
| Hurricane | Relatively High | 93.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 47.4 | 5 | 0 | $50K |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | 46.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | 82.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | 39.7 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 32.5 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 40.4 | 1 | 0 | $10K |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | 82.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 21.9 | 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
Hertford County ranks in the 94th percentile (High) 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 | 94th | High |
| Socioeconomic status | 97th | High |
| Household characteristics | 74th | Moderate |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 95th | High |
| Housing type & transportation | 83rd | High |
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 | 37th | Relatively Low |
| Risk to homes | 36th | Relatively Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 73.3% | — |
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 Hertford County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Hertford County, North Carolina are hurricane, drought, and winter weather. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Hertford County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Hertford County has received 28 federal disaster declarations since 1968, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is hurricane (16 declarations).
Has Hertford County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Hertford County include Severe Winter Storm (2026), Tropical Storm Debby (2024), Hurricane Helene (2024). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1968.
How does Hertford County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Bertie County, NC has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Franklin, VA has the lowest (Very Low). Hertford County is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Hertford County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Hertford 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. Hertford County's composite score of 68 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 68% of US counties.