Enter any address in Alexander County, North Carolina to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from heavy rainfall events is the primary flood concern in Alexander County. Between 2000 and 2023, NOAA data recorded 14 flash flood events, resulting in 6 fatalities. More recently, a flash flood event in July 2023 caused localized flooding and one fatality due to 4 to 6 inches of rain falling in a few hours. Another significant rainfall event in January 2024 brought 3 to 5 inches of rain, leading to numerous reports of flooding across western North Carolina.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data shows that properties in Zone A have experienced an average of 0.0 feet of water depth with an average payout of $1,637. Properties in Zone X, however, have seen higher payouts averaging $9,816 with an average water depth of 0.5 feet. Homeowners in Zone A, as well as those in Zone X, should pay close attention to flood risk information.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
9 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Alexander County, North Carolina has recorded 19 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 14 flash floods and 3 river or area floods. The county has received 19 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 |
| Hurricane Helene | Tropical Storm | Sep 25, 2024 |
| Tropical Storm Helene | Tropical Storm | Sep 25, 2024 |
| Hurricane Ian | Hurricane | Sep 28, 2022 |
| Tropical Storm Eta | Severe Storm | Nov 12, 2020 |
| Hurricane Isaias | Hurricane | Jul 31, 2020 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Feb 6, 2020 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Hurricane Dorian | Hurricane | Sep 1, 2019 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Sep 27, 2024 | 0.50K |
| Tropical Storm | Sep 27, 2024 | 500.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jan 9, 2024 | 1.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 15, 2023 | 10.00K (1 deaths) |
| Flood | Nov 12, 2020 | 100.00K (1 deaths) |
| Flash Flood | Nov 12, 2020 | 350.00K (5 deaths) |
| Flash Flood | Feb 6, 2020 | 2.00K |
| Flood | Jun 9, 2019 | 1.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 9, 2019 | 10.00K |
| Tropical Storm | Oct 11, 2018 | 1.00K |
Flash Flood — Sep 27, 2024
Tropical Cyclone Helene began organizing over the western Caribbean on the 23rd and 24th of September before rapidly intensifying as it moved north through the eastern Gulf of Mexico on the 25th and 26th. A plume of moisture extending from the intensifying storm interacted with a slow-moving cold front to produce a band of widespread heavy rain showers and embedded scattered thunderstorms over ...
Tropical Storm — Sep 27, 2024
Tropical Cyclone Helene began organizing over the western Caribbean on the 23rd and 24th of September before rapidly intensifying as it moved north through the eastern Gulf of Mexico on the 25th and 26th. A plume of moisture extending from the intensifying storm interacted with a slow-moving cold front to produce a band of widespread heavy rain showers and embedded scattered thunderstorms over ...
Flash Flood — Jan 9, 2024
A major/complex frontal system brought widespread rain with embedded thunderstorms to western North Carolina, mainly during the afternoon of the 9th. Widespread rainfall amounts of 3 to 5 inches (with locally higher amounts) in around 12 hours resulted in numerous reports of flooding. Isolated severe thunderstorms also resulted in a number of damaging wind gusts reports over the Piedmont, along...
Flash Flood — Jul 15, 2023
Widespread showers and thunderstorms developed in the vicinity of a trough over the North Carolina foothills throughout the 15th. While rainfall was primarily in the 2 to 3 inch range, isolated areas of 4 to 6 inches fell in just a few hours across the northern foothills. This resulted in localized, but significant flash flooding across western Alexander County, where one fatality occurred.
Flood — Nov 12, 2020
Tropical Cyclone Eta moved from the eastern Gulf of Mexico, across the northern Florida peninsula, to off the South Carolina coast throughout the 11th and 12th. Tropical moisture streaming into the Carolinas throughout this time resulted in development of heavy rainfall, with widespread rainfall amounts of 4 to 6 inches, with locally higher amounts across the foothills and Piedmont of North Car...
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 Alexander 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 Alexander 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.