Enter any address in Clay County, North Carolina to see its FEMA flood zone
2 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Clay County, North Carolina has recorded 12 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 5 flash floods and 6 river or area floods. The county has received 13 federal disaster declarations, 2 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1973–2026)
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 |
| 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 Katrina Evacuation | Hurricane | Aug 29, 2005 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | Apr 7, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jul 4, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Mar 25, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Mar 25, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Apr 13, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Dec 2, 2015 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Sep 21, 2009 | 0.00K |
| Tropical Storm | Sep 16, 2004 | 15K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 16, 2003 | — |
| Flash Flood | May 6, 2003 | 954K |
Flood — Apr 7, 2025
A cold front swept through the southern Appalachian region on April 6th, exiting the area to the east during the morning hours on April 7th. This front produced several hours of moderate to heavy rainfall in the mountains of east Tennessee and western North Carolina. This rainfall caused flooding along Tusquittee Creek near Hayesville.
Flood — Jul 4, 2025
An isolated thunderstorm produced heavy rains over portions of Cherokee and Clay counties in western North Carolina on the evening of July 4th. Some flash flooding occurred in Clay county as a result.
Flash Flood — Mar 25, 2021
A weather system moved from the Lower Mississippi River Valley through the Appalachian Mountains, bringing locally heavy rainfall across southwestern North Carolina on the 25th.
Flood — Mar 25, 2021
A weather system moved from the Lower Mississippi River Valley through the Appalachian Mountains, bringing locally heavy rainfall across southwestern North Carolina on the 25th.
Flash Flood — Apr 13, 2020
A prolonged convective event with deep moist southerly flow in an unstable environment with strong wind shear generated supercell thunderstorms across Southeast Tennessee and Southwest North Carolina. The lengthy period of heavy rain resulted in widespread three to four inch rainfall totals across East Tennessee, Southwest North Carolina, and Southwest Virginia.
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 Clay 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 Clay 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.