FEMA rates relative ice storm risk for Catawba County as very high and reports FEMA annualized frequency of 1.660 per year for the area.
FEMA summary
FEMA's profile for Catawba County reports FEMA annualized frequency of 1.660 per year for ice storm. FEMA's relative risk rating for the area is very high; the annualized frequency is a separate measure.
Hazard metrics cover FEMA county-equivalent geographies rather than individual addresses or parcels. Use local or state hazard maps before making a property, insurance, retrofit, or evacuation decision.
Select a hazard to inspect FEMA's figures for Catawba County.
Ice Storm
FEMA combines its area-wide loss estimate and community data in this relative rating. Event frequency appears separately below.
Relative FEMA score
98.2/100
Occurrence thresholds vary by hazard. The FEMA methodology defines the value for each hazard.
The area loss estimate combines FEMA's modeled losses to buildings, population, and agriculture across Catawba County. It is not an estimate for a home or address.
City risk summary
For Hickory, FEMA rates ice storm risk for Catawba County as very high, with a relative score of 98.2/100. The next highest relative scores are landslide at 92.3/100 and hail at 91.1/100.
Using FEMA data for Catawba County, Hickory is #4 among 16 covered North Carolina entries for ice storm risk. Gastonia is about 35 straight-line miles from the Hickory map point; its FEMA figures cover Gaston County.
For homeowners and movers
Preparedness actions
Living in Hickory? Learn how to handle water storage, sanitation, and security in a small space.
The map shows Hickory. All FEMA figures on this page cover Catawba County.
The FEMA figures cover Catawba County. Address-level conditions require local maps, building records, and property details.
FEMA rates relative ice storm risk for Catawba County as very high. Its FEMA annualized frequency is 1.660 per year. Damage at a specific address also depends on the building, soil, elevation, and exact hazard zone.
Among 16 North Carolina cities covered by this directory, Hickory is #4 for relative ice storm risk based on FEMA's score for Catawba County. Homes within Hickory can have different soil, elevation, construction, and hazard-zone conditions.
In FEMA's data for Catawba County, the highest relative ratings are Ice Storm (Very High), Landslide (Relatively Moderate), and Hail (Relatively Moderate). FEMA uses estimated losses and community data along with event frequency when assigning these ratings.
The hazard numbers cover Catawba County. For an individual home, check local fault, flood, fire, evacuation, and building records for the exact address.
FEMA gives Catawba County an overall relative risk rating of relatively low. Conditions at a specific home depend on its hazard zones, building type, maintenance, insurance, and access to evacuation routes and emergency services.
Start with this step: Confirm the exact hazard using official local maps before making property or insurance decisions. Know how local officials issue warnings and evacuation instructions. Use Ready.gov Be Informed and local emergency guidance for a complete plan.
Distances are measured between city coordinates.
| City | Distance | Ice Storm rating | Relative score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gastonia, NC | 35 mi | Very High | 99.1 |
| Concord, NC | 45 mi | Very High | 98.9 |
| Charlotte, NC | 46 mi | Very High | 99.0 |
| Rock Hill, SC | 58 mi | Very High | 97.4 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | 64 mi | Relatively Moderate | 66.6 |
Limited to products tagged for ice storm or general preparedness.
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, this site may earn from qualifying purchases.
Water
Bombproof water storage. 5 gallons is the minimum for one person for 5 days.
View product
Power
600 lumens and rechargeable. Hands-free lighting is critical during power outages.
View product
Hazard metrics come from FEMA National Risk Index v1.19.0 (March 2023). City population and coordinates come from SimpleMaps US Cities Database. For current conditions, use official local maps, warnings, inspections, and professional advice.