Enter any address in Hyde County, North Carolina to see its FEMA flood zone
Coastal flooding from tropical systems is the dominant flood character in Hyde County. Over the past 30 years, NOAA Storm Events data shows 16 Tropical Storms and 12 Hurricanes have impacted the county. Recent events illustrate this risk: in October 2025, distant hurricanes produced major ocean overwash and wave runup affecting Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands, leading to impassable Highway 12 and home collapses. In August 2025, Hurricane Erin, though offshore, caused damaging ocean overwash and storm surge on Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands, along with soundside flooding.
FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) data indicates that properties in Zone A have experienced the highest number of claims, with an average payout of $23,535 and an average water depth of 2.0 feet. Properties in Zone X and Zone X_Unshaded also show significant claim activity, with average payouts exceeding $13,000 and water depths around 2.0 to 2.7 feet. Residents in coastal areas, particularly on Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands, and those in low-lying areas or without a Base Flood Elevation (BFE) should pay the most attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
30 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Hyde County, North Carolina has recorded 47 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 8 flash floods and 2 river or area floods. The county has received 32 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 |
| 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 |
| Hurricane Florence | Hurricane | Sep 7, 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 | — |
| Storm Surge/Tide | Aug 20, 2025 | — |
| Coastal Flood | Oct 11, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Coastal Flood | Oct 1, 2025 | — |
| Coastal Flood | Jan 9, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Tropical Storm | Aug 8, 2024 | — |
| Flash Flood | Aug 31, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Coastal Flood | Dec 17, 2023 | — |
| Flash Flood | Aug 4, 2021 | 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.
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 ...
Coastal Flood — Oct 11, 2025
The combination of a strong coastal storm and king tides produced moderate to major coastal flooding across parts of coastal Eastern NC. Sound side areas of the southern Pamlico Sound and Neuse River experienced coastal flooding due to a prolonged duration of strong northeast to east winds. Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands experienced major coastal flooding due to large long periods swells and kin...
Coastal Flood — Oct 1, 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...
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 Hyde 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 Hyde 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.