Catawba County in the western Piedmont of North Carolina is within the 50-mile ingestion zone of McGuire Nuclear Station. The county hosts significant furniture and fiber-optics manufacturing. The Catawba River creates flooding risk. Hickory is the regional hub for the western Piedmont. The county faces moderate tornado risk and sits between Charlotte and Asheville on the I-40 corridor.
// Preparedness Recommendations
- Evacuation routes inland should be identified in advance.
- Store at least 72 hours of food and water.
- Elevate critical belongings above flood level.
- Have backup power ready in case of grid failure.
// Recommended Supplies
Essential gear for power outages, severe weather, and emergency situations in your area.
- Emergency Food Supplies
- Water Filtration & Storage
- Backup Generator
- Solar Backup Power
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// Risk Intelligence
| Threat Score | 5 / 10 Moderate Risk |
| Primary Hazard | Tornado / Flash Flooding |
| Secondary Hazard | Nuclear Proximity |
| FEMA Flood Zone | Moderate |
| Federally Declared Disasters | 5 |
| Last Major Event | 2020 Tornado |
| Event Frequency | Annual |
// Emergency Operations
| Emergency Mgmt Phone | (828) 464-5241 |
| Emergency Shelters | 8 designated facilities |
| Evacuation Routes | I-40 US-321 NC-16 NC-10 |
// County Profile
| County | Catawba County NC |
| State | North Carolina (NC) |
| Population | 158 |
| Area | 414 sq miles |
| FEMA Region | Moderate |
// Major Cities
// Cities in This County
// Other North Carolina Counties
New Hanover County NC
Hurricane / Storm Surge
9/10
Critical
Brunswick County NC
Hurricane / Storm Surge
8/10
High
Buncombe County NC
Flash Flooding / Hurricane
8/10
High
Onslow County NC
Hurricane / Flooding
8/10
High
Jones County NC
Hurricane / Flash Flooding
7/10
Moderate
Pitt County NC
Hurricane / Flash Flooding
7/10
High