Enter any address in Alamance County, North Carolina to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from heavy rainfall events dominates Alamance County's flood history. Recent examples include July 2025, when remnants of Tropical Storm Chantal produced up to 11 inches of rain, leading to catastrophic flash flooding and fatalities across the region. In May 2025, intense thunderstorms brought rainfall rates of 3 or more inches per hour, causing flash flooding in areas including Burlington.
Over the last 30 years, NOAA data shows 47 flash flood events, along with floods, hurricanes, and tropical storms. National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data indicates that properties in Zone A have experienced the most claims, with an average payout of $35,340 and an average water depth of 5.5 feet. Properties in Zone X also see claims, though with lower average payouts and water depths.
Homeowners in Zone A, and those located near waterways or in areas prone to rapid rainfall accumulation, should pay particular attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
25 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Alamance County, North Carolina has recorded 59 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 47 flash floods and 6 river or area floods. The county has received 27 federal disaster declarations. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1977–2026)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Winter Storm | Winter Storm | Jan 21, 2026 |
| Tropical Depression Chantal | Tropical Depression | Jul 6, 2025 |
| Hurricane Helene | Tropical Storm | Sep 25, 2024 |
| Tropical Storm Debby | Tropical Storm | Aug 5, 2024 |
| Hurricane Ian | Hurricane | Sep 28, 2022 |
| Hurricane Isaias | Hurricane | Jul 31, 2020 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Hurricane Dorian | Hurricane | Sep 1, 2019 |
| Tropical Storm Michael | Hurricane | Oct 10, 2018 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | May 29, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 19, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 15, 2025 | 2.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 15, 2025 | 5.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 6, 2025 | 0.00K (2 deaths) |
| Flash Flood | Sep 24, 2024 | 20.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jan 9, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 8, 2024 | 5.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 8, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Tropical Storm | Sep 30, 2022 | 0.75M |
Flash Flood — May 29, 2025
Storms over South Carolina in association with a mid-level system tracked into central North Carolina in the afternoon and evening hours. The storms initially produced a wind damage and isolated hail threat. Thereafter, the event evolved into a flash flood threat, with training and back building storms resulting in 3 or more inches per hour rainfall rates from Albemarle to Greensboro to Burling...
Flash Flood — Jul 19, 2025
An upper-level disturbance moved across central North Carolina, triggering storms that produced damaging wind gusts and a few reports of flash flooding.
Flash Flood — Jul 15, 2025
Isolated to scattered showers and storms developed along the border with southeastern Virginia in the afternoon hours. The storms then propagated south and southwest during the evening hours. Several reports of flooding were observed, along with a few wind damage reports.
Flash Flood — Jul 6, 2025
Tropical Storm Chantal made landfall over northeastern South Carolina during the morning hours of July 6. The remnants of Chantal then tracked west-northwest into portions of central North Carolina, stalling out over the area before tracking east-northeast into Virginia by the 7th of July. Catastrophic flash flooding occurred from record rainfall of up to 11 inches in some spots of the Piedmont...
Flash Flood — Sep 24, 2024
A stalled frontal boundary over central North Carolina slowly edged northward into Virginia. That northward movement combined with forcing aloft to produce scattered to numerous showers and storms in the evening and into the early morning hours of 25 September. Severe gusts occurred in Randolph County, as well as flash flooding over the northern and northeast Piedmont.
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Individual Claims (2.25M records analyzed).
FEMA assigns flood zone designations to areas in Alamance County, North Carolina:
AE High Risk — 1% annual chance of flooding. Insurance required.
VE Very High Risk — Coastal flooding with wave action.
X (Shaded) Moderate Risk — 500-year floodplain.
X Low Risk — Outside major floodplains.
Properties in Alamance County, North Carolina that are in FEMA-designated Special Flood Hazard Areas (zones A and V) with federally backed mortgages are required to carry flood insurance.
Even outside high-risk zones, flood insurance is recommended. From 2014 to 2024, nearly one-third of NFIP claims came from outside the high-risk Special Flood Hazard Area.
Visit FloodSmart.gov to find an agent and get a quote.