Enter any address in Chatham County, North Carolina to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from heavy rainfall events dominates flood risk in Chatham County. Over the last 30 years, NOAA Storm Events data shows 35 flash flood events, resulting in 3 fatalities. Other flood-related events include 6 general flood events, 4 tropical storms, and 4 hurricanes.
A notable event occurred in July 2025, when the remnants of Tropical Storm Chantal produced up to 11 inches of rain in the Piedmont region, leading to catastrophic flash flooding and multiple fatalities across several counties, including Chatham.
Homeowners in Zone A, which has seen 22 NFIP claims averaging over $51,000 with an average water depth of 4.3 feet, should be particularly aware of flood risk. Properties in Zone X have also experienced claims, averaging over $76,000 with a significantly deeper average water depth of 25.2 feet, indicating that flood risk extends beyond traditionally mapped high-risk areas.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
19 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Chatham County, North Carolina has recorded 49 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 35 flash floods and 6 river or area floods. The county has received 22 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 | Jul 15, 2025 | 3.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 15, 2025 | 1.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 6, 2025 | 20.00K (1 deaths) |
| Flash Flood | Jul 6, 2025 | 10.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 6, 2025 | 1.60M |
| Flash Flood | Jul 6, 2025 | 0.00K (2 deaths) |
| Flash Flood | Aug 6, 2025 | 20.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 8, 2024 | 2.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 14, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Tropical Storm | Sep 30, 2022 | 0.75M |
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 — Aug 6, 2025
Within cool northeasterly surface flow, several upper-level disturbances tracked across central North Carolina from a persistent weak trough of low pressure over the Ohio Valley region. Copious amounts of moisture remained from the 5th of August. A wedge front was also in place along Interstate 95. Several reports of flash flooding were reported over the eastern Piedmont and northern Coastal Pl...
Flash Flood — Aug 8, 2024
Tropical Depression Debby slowly made its way through Florida, off the South Carolina coast, then back inland through the western Piedmont of North Carolina during the evening hours of 8 August 2024. Ahead of the storm, numerous feeder bands brought periods of heavy rain to central North Carolina, resulting in widespread 4-6 inch rainfall amounts across the western Piedmont, with higher amounts...
Flash Flood — Jul 14, 2023
A few surface boundaries, from upstream thunderstorms over Virginia and the North Carolina Foothills during the afternoon and evening on the 13th of July, converged upon and focused thunderstorm development over central North Carolina, as they settled generally southward throughout the morning through evening hours on the 14th. Damaging wind gusts and flash flooding resulted from a combination ...
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 Chatham 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 Chatham 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.