Martin County, NC
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Martin County has experienced 23 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.
Martin County's highest-rated hazards are hurricane, winter weather, and drought, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. NOAA records 32 storm events in the county over the past decade. Community vulnerability is elevated (93rd 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. Martin County has been designated in 23 declarations since 1968, covering 6 disaster types including hurricane (16), 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 23 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 | 35.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 55 | 9 | 0 | — |
| Coastal Flooding | Very Low | 31.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 40.2 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 56.7 | 4 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 60.2 | 2 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Relatively Moderate | 92.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 45.6 | 17 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | 33.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | 80.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | 37.7 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 22.6 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 34.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | 80 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 19.4 | 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
Martin County ranks in the 93rd 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 | 93rd | High |
| Socioeconomic status | 93rd | High |
| Household characteristics | 96th | High |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 86th | High |
| Housing type & transportation | 66th | Moderate |
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 | 38th | Relatively Low |
| Risk to homes | 37th | Relatively Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 66.7% | — |
NOAA tracked 32 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 17 in 2016–20 vs 15 in 2021–25 (-12% — frequency decreasing).
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 Martin County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Martin County, North Carolina are hurricane, winter weather, and drought. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Martin County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Martin County has received 23 federal disaster declarations since 1968, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is hurricane (16 declarations).
Has Martin County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Martin 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 Martin County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Pitt County, NC has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and Chowan County, NC has the lowest (Very Low). Martin County is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Martin County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Martin 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. Martin County's composite score of 66 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 66% of US counties.