Enter any address in Chowan County, North Carolina to see its FEMA flood zone
Tropical storms and hurricanes have been the most frequent flood-causing events in Chowan County over the last 30 years, with 17 occurrences recorded by NOAA, including 7 hurricanes which resulted in one fatality. Recent events include Tropical Storm Ophelia in September 2023, which brought heavy rain and flooding, and Tropical Storm Elsa in July 2021, which caused wind damage. Flash floods have also occurred, such as in August 2024 and December 2023, due to heavy rainfall from thunderstorms and coastal low pressure systems.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) data indicates that properties in Zone A have experienced the highest number of claims, with an average payout of $20,559 and an average water depth of 2.9 feet. Properties in Zone X_SHADED have seen the highest average payouts at $51,996, despite a lower average water depth of 0.8 feet. Homeowners in Zone X_UNSHADED should also be aware of potential risks, as this zone has recorded claims with an average water depth of 5.8 feet. Residents in these zones, particularly those in low-lying areas or near waterways, should pay close attention to flood risk information.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
11 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Chowan County, North Carolina has recorded 31 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 6 flash floods and 5 river or area floods. The county has received 26 federal disaster declarations. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1968–2026)
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 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 |
| Hurricane Florence | Hurricane | Sep 7, 2018 |
| Hurricane Matthew | Hurricane | Oct 4, 2016 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Aug 10, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Tropical Storm | Sep 23, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Dec 18, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Apr 9, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Tropical Storm | Jul 8, 2021 | 15.00K |
| Coastal Flood | Apr 13, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Nov 12, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Tropical Storm | Aug 4, 2020 | 500.00K |
| Coastal Flood | Aug 4, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Coastal Flood | Sep 6, 2019 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — Aug 10, 2024
Scattered thunderstorms along a frontal boundary produced heavy rain which caused flash flooding across portions of northeast North Carolina.
Tropical Storm — Sep 23, 2023
Tropical Storm Ophelia made landfall in Emerald Island, NC (in the southeast part of the state) at 6:20 AM on Saturday, 9/23 as a tropical storm with 70 mph winds. Ophelia gradually weakened (and lost tropical characteristics) as it tracked northward toward the Wakefield CWA during the day on Saturday. Ophelia tracked northward roughly along the I-95 corridor during the afternoon and evening ho...
Flash Flood — Dec 18, 2023
Strong low pressure moving northward along the coast produced heavy rain which caused flash flooding across portions of northeast North Carolina.
Flood — Apr 9, 2021
Scattered thunderstorms in advance of a warm front produced heavy rain which caused flash flooding and flooding across portions of northeast North Carolina.
Tropical Storm — Jul 8, 2021
The center of Tropical Storm Elsa tracked north just inland of the Middle Atlantic Coast from Thursday morning through Thursday night, July 8th. The Tropical Storm produced tropical storm force winds and associated wind damage across portions of northeast North Carolina.
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 Chowan 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 Chowan 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.