Enter any address in Lee County, North Carolina to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from thunderstorms is the most frequent type of flood event in Lee County, NC. For example, on June 16, 2025, storms produced isolated flash flooding and downed trees. Earlier that month, on June 5, 2025, an area of low pressure also led to scattered showers and storms that caused isolated flash flooding.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) data shows that properties in Zone A have experienced the most claims, with an average payout of $21,542 and an average water depth of 4.5 feet. Properties in Zone V also saw significant water depth, averaging 4.0 feet, though with fewer claims. Homeowners in Zone A and Zone V, as well as those in Zone X which has also seen claims, should pay close attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
12 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Lee County, North Carolina has recorded 37 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 25 flash floods and 4 river or area floods. The county has received 23 federal disaster declarations. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1968–2026)
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 |
| 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 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Jun 16, 2025 | 1.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 16, 2025 | 2.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 5, 2025 | 50.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 5, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Tropical Storm | Sep 30, 2022 | 0.75M |
| Flash Flood | Nov 12, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 19, 2018 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Sep 17, 2018 | 5.42M |
| Flash Flood | Sep 15, 2018 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Apr 15, 2018 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — Jun 16, 2025
A southward moving cold front out of Virginia stalled out near the North Carolina border. Storms from the late evening on the 15th persisted into the early morning hours of the 16th along and south of the front, producing isolated flash flooding. The stalled boundary then fueled additional numerous showers and storms in the afternoon and evening hours of the 16th along small scale boundaries. S...
Flash Flood — Jun 5, 2025
An area of low pressure tracked across southern and eastern sections of North Carolina. Scattered showers and storms developed along and ahead of the low pressure system, producing isolated flash flooding in Lee County.
Tropical Storm — Sep 30, 2022
Hurricane Ian made landfall along the South Carolina coast near Georgetown during the early afternoon hours of September 30, 2022. Widespread wind gusts over tropical storm force and heavy rainfall occurred across much of central North Carolina through the afternoon and evening hours. There were numerous reports of wind damage and power outages as a result of the storm.
Flash Flood — Nov 12, 2020
Moisture from Tropical Storm Eta was drawn northward into the Mid Atlantic during the day of Wednesday November 11th. Meanwhile, a slow moving cold front approached the area and made its way through central North Carolina during the day Thursday, resulting in widespread showers and isolated thunderstorms. Rainfall totals were generally in the 4 to 6 inches range, although some spots near Rocky ...
Flash Flood — Aug 19, 2018
Prefrontal convection developed over central North Carolina during the late evening in a warm and unstable atmosphere. Several of the storms produced wind damage, with one report of flash flooding.
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 Lee 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 Lee 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.