Mecklenburg County, VA
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Mecklenburg County has experienced 20 federally declared disasters since 1973, most recently Severe Winter Storm in 2026. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Mecklenburg County's highest-rated hazards are drought, hurricane, and earthquake, with its top risk rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. NOAA records 52 storm events in the county over the past decade. Community vulnerability is elevated (73rd 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. Mecklenburg County has been designated in 20 declarations since 1973, covering 8 disaster types including hurricane (8), snowstorm (3), biological (2).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2019 | Hurricane | Tropical Storm Michael |
| 2019 | Hurricane | Hurricane Florence |
| 2018 | Hurricane | Hurricane Florence |
| 2013 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2006 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Showing the 10 most recent of 20 total declarations since 1973.
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 | 24.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 56.6 | 32 | 1 | $31K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | 65 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 51.6 | 1 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 33.8 | 4 | 0 | $520K |
| Hurricane | Relatively Moderate | 85.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 45.1 | 14 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | 26.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 58.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | 49.4 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 33 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 40.9 | 1 | 0 | $2K |
| Drought | Relatively High | 96.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 39.5 | 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
Mecklenburg County ranks in the 73rd percentile (Moderate) 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 | 73rd | Moderate |
| Socioeconomic status | 56th | Moderate |
| Household characteristics | 81st | High |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 78th | High |
| Housing type & transportation | 68th | 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 | 27th | Relatively Low |
| Risk to homes | 26th | Relatively Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 86.7% | — |
NOAA tracked 52 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 26 in 2016–20 vs 26 in 2021–25 (0% — relatively stable).
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 Mecklenburg County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Mecklenburg County, Virginia are drought, hurricane, and earthquake. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Mecklenburg County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Mecklenburg County has received 20 federal disaster declarations since 1973, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is hurricane (8 declarations).
Has Mecklenburg County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Mecklenburg County include Severe Winter Storm (2026). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1973.
How does Mecklenburg County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Granville County, NC has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Charlotte County, VA has the lowest (Very Low). Mecklenburg County is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Mecklenburg County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Mecklenburg 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. Mecklenburg County's composite score of 54 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 54% of US counties.