Enter any address in Dare County, North Carolina to see its FEMA flood zone
Dare County is characterized by frequent coastal flooding and tropical storm impacts. Over the past 30 years, NOAA Storm Events data shows 27 flash flood events, 26 tropical storms, and 12 hurricanes impacting the area. For example, in August 2025, Hurricane Erin, though offshore, caused damaging ocean overwash and storm surge on Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands. Similarly, in September 2025, distant hurricanes produced major ocean overwash and wave runup affecting these islands, leading to impassable roads and home collapses.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) data indicates a significant number of claims in Zone A (10,931 claims) and Zone V (1,937 claims), areas typically associated with higher flood risk. Claims in Zone X_UNSHADED also show substantial payouts and higher average water depths than other X zones. Residents in coastal areas, particularly on Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands, and those in lower-lying zones should pay close attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
47 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Dare County, North Carolina has recorded 85 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 27 flash floods and 5 river or area floods. The county has received 31 federal disaster declarations. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1988–2026)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Winter Storm | Winter Storm | Jan 21, 2026 |
| Hurricane Helene | Tropical Storm | Sep 25, 2024 |
| Potential Tropical Cyclone Eight | Tropical Storm | Sep 16, 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Coastal Flood | Sep 30, 2025 | — |
| Coastal Flood | Oct 27, 2025 | — |
| Tropical Storm | Aug 21, 2025 | — |
| Storm Surge/Tide | Aug 20, 2025 | — |
| Flash Flood | May 15, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Coastal Flood | Oct 11, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 10, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 2, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Coastal Flood | Oct 1, 2025 | — |
| Flash Flood | Sep 17, 2024 | 0.00K |
Coastal Flood — Sep 30, 2025
Distant Hurricanes Humberto Imelda moved well off the East Coast at the end of the month, but produced major ocean overwash and wave runup affecting Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands for several days at the end of the month and into the beginning of October due to large long period swells. Highway 12 became impassable around high tide on September 30th, and remained closed until the early evening o...
Coastal Flood — Oct 27, 2025
A low-pressure system moved offshore and combined with high pressure to the north to produce strong northeasterly winds, which in turn brought large waves and ocean overwash to Ocracoke and Hatteras Islands from October 27-29. The resultant impacts caused five oceanfront homes to collapse, and closed sections of N.C. 12 on Hatteras and Ocracoke Island.
Tropical Storm — Aug 21, 2025
Hurricane Erin made its closest approach to the North Carolina coast during the morning hours of Thursday, August 21st, 2025 as a category 2. While the center of Erin remained around 200 miles east of Cape Hatteras, Erin was so large that damaging ocean overwash and storm surge impacted Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands, and caused additional minor ocean overwash along ocean areas to the north and ...
Storm Surge/Tide — Aug 20, 2025
Hurricane Erin made its closest approach to the North Carolina coast during the morning hours of Thursday, August 21st, 2025 as a category 2. While the center of Erin remained around 200 miles east of Cape Hatteras, Erin was so large that damaging ocean overwash and storm surge impacted Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands, and caused additional minor ocean overwash along ocean areas to the north and ...
Flash Flood — May 15, 2025
A stalled frontal boundary produced thunderstorms, concentrated north of Highway 70, with the greatest coverage along and north of Highway 264. Several storms became severe and produced damaging winds, large hail up to tennis ball size, and an isolated tornado.
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 Dare 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 Dare 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.