Enter any address in Gates County, North Carolina to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from scattered thunderstorms dominates the flood events in Gates County, NC. Over the past 30 years, NOAA data shows 17 flash flood events, alongside 6 tropical storms, 4 floods, and 3 hurricanes. Recent examples include flash flooding reported in July 2024 due to scattered thunderstorms along a frontal boundary, and localized heavy rain causing flash flooding in June 2025 from a stalled stationary front.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data indicates that properties in Zone A have experienced 15 claims with an average payout of $8,947 and an average water depth of 0.7 feet. Zone X, while having fewer claims (7), shows a higher average payout of $27,249 with an average water depth of 0.6 feet. Properties in Zone V have had 1 claim with an average payout of $2,704 and an average water depth of -1.0 feet. Residents in areas designated as Zone A, and those in Zone X with higher average payouts, should pay particular attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
5 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Gates County, North Carolina has recorded 30 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 17 flash floods and 4 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 (1984–2026)
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 | Jun 16, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 12, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 11, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Tropical Storm | Jul 8, 2021 | 15.00K |
| Flood | Nov 12, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Tropical Storm | Aug 4, 2020 | 250.00K |
| Tropical Storm | Sep 5, 2019 | 15.00K |
| Flood | Sep 21, 2016 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Oct 8, 2016 | 0.00K (1 deaths) |
| Flood | Oct 8, 2016 | 500.00K |
Flash Flood — Jun 16, 2025
A stationary front remained stalled in the vicinity of northeast North Carolina on June 16. Scattered, slow-moving showers and storms developed along the front in the afternoon and evening, producing localized heavy rain and flash flooding across northeast North Carolina.
Flash Flood — Jul 12, 2024
Scattered thunderstorms along a frontal boundary produced heavy rain which caused flash flooding across portions of northeast North Carolina.
Flash Flood — Jul 11, 2024
Scattered thunderstorms along a frontal boundary produced heavy rain which caused flash 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.
Flood — Nov 12, 2020
Deep tropical moisture streaming northward into the Mid Atlantic region combined with the approach of a cold front and low pressure, produced heavy rain which caused flooding 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 Gates 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 Gates 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.