Flood insurance in North Carolina
Flood insurance policies, average premiums, flood zones and claims history for North Carolina, county by county, from official FEMA records.
Flood claims paid per year
NFIP claims paid in North Carolina, 2000–2026
The three costliest years. The worst was 2018, with $653.0 million paid on 16,520 claims.
Insured buildings by flood zone
Zone not reported for 36% of policies; shares are of policies with a known zone.
Costliest flood events
Named events by NFIP claims paid in North Carolina
| Event | Year | Claims | Paid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Florence | 2018 | 15,337 | $637.3 million |
| Hurricane Helene | 2024 | 2,028 | $219.6 million |
| Hurricane Matthew | 2016 | 5,929 | $204.7 million |
| Hurricane Floyd | 1999 | 12,334 | $199.6 million |
| Hurricane Fran | 1996 | 10,357 | $176.8 million |
Flood insurance by county
Counties in North Carolina with detailed pages, by number of policies. 58 smaller counties are included in the state totals.
| County | Policies | Avg premium | Claims since 1978 | Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brunswick County | 20,841 | $879 | 9,879 | $99.3 million |
| New Hanover County | 17,411 | $1,072 | 11,183 | $187.7 million |
| Dare County | 15,749 | $761 | 18,950 | $230.9 million |
| Carteret County | 14,188 | $1,192 | 8,997 | $128.9 million |
| Craven County | 5,794 | $899 | 6,126 | $239.5 million |
| Pender County | 5,495 | $1,185 | 5,889 | $118.1 million |
| Onslow County | 4,960 | $979 | 4,432 | $70.7 million |
| Wake County | 3,306 | $1,028 | 1,642 | $31.3 million |
| Currituck County | 3,258 | $801 | 2,007 | $21.9 million |
| Beaufort County | 3,249 | $910 | 9,462 | $131.5 million |
| Mecklenburg County | 3,007 | $1,116 | 2,883 | $61.6 million |
| Pamlico County | 1,957 | $972 | 4,330 | $102.8 million |
| Pasquotank County | 1,924 | $812 | 531 | $6.5 million |
| Pitt County | 1,700 | $802 | 1,205 | $36.3 million |
| Cumberland County | 1,574 | $836 | 827 | $24.8 million |
| Durham County | 1,347 | $1,051 | 443 | $11.0 million |
| Buncombe County | 1,230 | $1,777 | 1,192 | $104.1 million |
| Hyde County | 1,174 | $857 | 1,734 | $44.8 million |
| Robeson County | 1,169 | $1,055 | 1,430 | $54.6 million |
| Wayne County | 1,034 | $876 | 1,193 | $47.0 million |
| Orange County | 971 | $1,645 | 568 | $36.4 million |
| Guilford County | 935 | $1,243 | 680 | $9.4 million |
| Edgecombe County | 748 | $920 | 795 | $28.2 million |
| Haywood County | 683 | $1,572 | 733 | $36.2 million |
| Camden County | 660 | $786 | 285 | $3.4 million |
| Watauga County | 645 | $1,453 | 463 | $16.3 million |
| Nash County | 633 | $1,299 | 735 | $33.7 million |
| Henderson County | 609 | $1,084 | 442 | $29.6 million |
| Forsyth County | 591 | $1,238 | 440 | $4.7 million |
| Johnston County | 560 | $897 | 313 | $11.4 million |
| Duplin County | 558 | $775 | 542 | $52.1 million |
| Columbus County | 521 | $810 | 712 | $25.0 million |
| Moore County | 513 | $892 | 154 | $2.9 million |
| Wilson County | 502 | $1,017 | 498 | $12.6 million |
| Tyrrell County | 494 | $856 | 588 | $9.0 million |
| Lenoir County | 459 | $1,017 | 835 | $44.4 million |
Common questions
How much does flood insurance cost in North Carolina?
The average NFIP flood insurance policy in North Carolina costs about $1,005 a year. Your own premium depends on your building's flood risk, elevation and the coverage you choose.
How many homes have flood insurance in North Carolina?
There are about 130,302 National Flood Insurance Program policies in force in North Carolina, according to FEMA's latest policy data. Private flood policies are not included.
How often does North Carolina flood?
Since 1978, NFIP policyholders in North Carolina have filed 109,593 flood claims, with $2.3 billion paid out. 25,727 of those claims were in the last 10 years.
Does homeowners insurance cover flooding?
No. Standard homeowners and renters insurance policies exclude flood damage. You need a separate flood policy from the NFIP or a private insurer.
How long until a new flood policy starts?
NFIP policies usually have a 30-day waiting period, so buying when a storm is already forecast is normally too late. Exceptions apply, for example when a lender requires the policy at closing.
How to get flood insurance
Most flood policies are sold through the National Flood Insurance Program by regular insurance agents. Ask the agent who handles your home or car insurance, or find one through FloodSmart.gov, FEMA's official flood insurance site. Private flood insurers also sell policies in many areas and are worth comparing.