Enter any address in Gaston County, North Carolina to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from heavy rainfall events characterizes Gaston County's flood risk. Over the past 30 years, NOAA Storm Events data shows 16 flood events and 15 flash flood events, with one recorded fatality. Recent examples include flash flooding in Gastonia on July 20, 2024, caused by slow-moving thunderstorms, and widespread flooding on January 9, 2024, from a major frontal system that brought 3 to 5 inches of rain. Tropical Cyclone Helene also contributed to heavy rainfall and flooding in late September 2024.
NFIP claims data indicates that properties in Zone A have experienced numerous claims with significant water depths. While Zone X has fewer claims, the average payout and water depth are higher. Homeowners, journalists, and real estate agents should pay particular attention to properties located in Zone A and Zone X, as these areas have shown a history of flood claims with notable water inundation and financial impact.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
14 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Gaston County, North Carolina has recorded 34 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 15 flash floods and 16 river or area floods. The county has received 20 federal disaster declarations. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1974–2026)
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 |
| 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 |
| Hurricane Florence | Hurricane | Sep 7, 2018 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Sep 27, 2024 | 50.00K |
| Tropical Storm | Sep 27, 2024 | 1.50M |
| Flash Flood | Jul 20, 2024 | 5.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jan 9, 2024 | 10.00K |
| Tropical Storm | Sep 30, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Mar 26, 2021 | 100.00K |
| Flood | Nov 12, 2020 | 250.00K |
| Flood | Feb 7, 2020 | 500.00K |
| Flash Flood | Feb 6, 2020 | 5.00K |
| Flood | Jun 9, 2019 | 2.00M |
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 — Jul 20, 2024
Slow moving thunderstorms and storm clusters developed over the North Carolina Piedmont during the evening. A series of these cells moved over the city of Gastonia and produced very heavy rainfall in a short period of time, resulting in flash flooding.
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...
Tropical Storm — Sep 30, 2022
Very gusty winds developed over the North Carolina Piedmont as Tropical Cyclone Ian made a second landfall as a minimal hurricane near Myrtle Beach during the afternoon of the 30th. Frequent wind gusts of 35 to 45 mph, with occasional gusts as high as 50 mph resulted in dozens of trees blown down throughout the area. Multiple trees fell on structures and vehicles, especially in the Charlotte ar...
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 Gaston 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 Gaston 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.