Hickory Municipal Building · Photo: Tylerg · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Hickory than in 69% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Hickory gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 69% of U.S. towns, #60 of 290 in North Carolina. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (74%). Flood insurance has paid 42 claims here since 1993.
Graded on FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value (NRI v1.20, December 2025), weighted by where residents live; flood claims are shown, not graded. How hazard risk is graded
What stands out about Hickory’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Hickory faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
River and rain flooding
Tornadoes
Earthquakes
Shares are of FEMA’s expected building damage, the measure the grade uses; ranks compare each hazard’s building-damage rate with all 85,154 U.S. census tracts. In FEMA’s terms, river and rain flooding is FEMA’s “Inland Flooding” (rivers and streams overflowing their banks, or rain overwhelming drainage). FEMA defines coastal flooding as high or rising tides and storm surge, so surge damage is counted there. Drought isn’t listed: FEMA counts its losses in crops only.
What’s behind Hickory’s grade
River and rain flooding is 74% of the building damage FEMA expects in Hickory, and Hickory’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 53% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 5%, at a rate in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
B+ #60 of 290 in North Carolina; lower expected damage per building than 69% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Hickory’s residents live in 20 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical North Carolina town has lower expected damage than 51% of U.S. towns; within the state, Hickory has less expected damage per building than 80% of North Carolina towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $13.4M a year in losses across Hickory: $11.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Hickory flood? Sometimes: 42 flood claims since 1993
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Hickory, from FEMA’s records: 2.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 60% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The October severe storms1 claim · $2K
- Hurricane Eta1 claim · $18K
Hickory isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Catawba County.4 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Hickory
Disasters that paid out in Hickory itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Hickory), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Tropical Storm Helene3,471 households applied for aid$2.7M aid approved$2.2M to the City of Hickory for repairs
- 2013Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, Mudslides$996K to the City of Hickory for repairs6 flood claims paid that year
- 2004Tropical Storm Frances14 households applied for aid$31K aid approved
- 2002Severe Ice Storm$96K to the City of Hickory for repairs
Catawba County has had 17 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often hurricanes and tropical storms, then winter storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Hickory after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Hickory archive →Hickory and its neighbors
Hickory is 4th of the 8 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newton | Aless damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Conover | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 13 |
| Long View | B+less damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Hickory | B+less damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 42 |
| Mountain View | B+less damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Granite Falls | Bless damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| St. Stephens | Bless damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Northlakes | Cmore damage than 67% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Brookford | — | 390 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
Hazard risk = FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade; the map is shaded by fifths of the same scale. Flood claims = paid federal flood insurance claims on record.
Get ready for what Hickory faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- Turn around at flooded roads: a foot of moving water can carry off a car.
- Flood insurance usually takes 30 days to start, so buy it before the forecast.
- Keep papers and medicines up high, in a grab-and-go bag.
- Pick your spot now: the lowest floor, an inside room, no windows.
- A watch means be ready; a warning means take cover now.
- Keep shoes and a flashlight by the bed.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- Look up the address on FEMA’s flood map.
- Ask the seller or landlord whether it has ever flooded, and what flood insurance costs there.
- Get a flood insurance quote early: policies usually start 30 days after you buy.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Hickory
Is Hickory at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Hickory has lower expected damage per building than 69% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #60 of 290 in North Carolina. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (74%) and tornadoes (8%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Hickory flood?
Flood insurance has paid 42 claims in Hickory since 1993, $1.0M in all, or 2.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 60% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 5 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from October severe storms (1).
Is Hickory in a flood zone?
Flood zones are drawn street by street, so the answer depends on the address: look it up on FEMA’s flood map. In Catawba County, 31% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Hickory?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Hickory’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Hickory?
By FEMA money that reached Hickory, Tropical Storm Helene (2024): 3,471 households applied for aid, $2.7M approved, and $2.2M to the City of Hickory for repairs. By flood claims, October severe storms: 1 paid, $2K.
Is Hickory at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (74%), and Hickory’s rate for it is lower than 53% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Hickory.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Hickory’s residents lived in the 2020 census; OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. Preparedness tips: Ready.gov. FEMA’s model is an average of expected damage, not a forecast. How hazard risk is graded.