Enter any address in Martin County, North Carolina to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from slow-moving thunderstorms is the most frequent type of flood event recorded in Martin County over the past 30 years, with 23 occurrences. Tropical storms and hurricanes have also impacted the area, contributing 10 and 8 events respectively. Recent examples include flash flooding from heavy rain in July 2024 and the impacts of Tropical Storm Isaias in August 2020.
National Flood Insurance Program data indicates that properties in Zone X have experienced the highest number of claims, with an average payout of $16,516 and an average water depth of 2.7 feet. While Zone A properties have seen fewer claims, the average water depth was 1.5 feet. Homeowners in Zone X, Zone A, and those in areas designated as X_SHADED, where one claim reached an average depth of 4.0 feet, should pay close attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
11 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Martin County, North Carolina has recorded 43 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 23 flash floods and 2 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 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 15, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 30, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 11, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Tropical Storm | Aug 4, 2020 | — |
| Tropical Storm | Sep 13, 2018 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 14, 2017 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Oct 8, 2016 | 0.00K |
| Tropical Storm | Oct 8, 2016 | — |
| Tropical Storm | Jun 6, 2013 | — |
| Flood | Jul 31, 2011 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — Jun 15, 2025
Slow moving thunderstorms produced areas of significant flash flooding.
Flash Flood — Sep 30, 2024
Slow moving thunderstorms produced isolated areas of flash flooding.
Flash Flood — Jul 11, 2024
Slow moving thunderstorms produced very heavy rain and several areas of flash flooding across Eastern NC.
Tropical Storm — Aug 4, 2020
Hurricane Isaias originated from a vigorous tropical wave off the coast of Africa that was first identified by the National Hurricane Center on July 23, 2020. The tropical wave gradually became more organized, and became Tropical Storm Isaias on July 30. Isaias marked the earliest ninth named storm on record, surpassing 2005's Hurricane Irene by eight days. Isaias strengthened into a Category 1...
Tropical Storm — Sep 13, 2018
Hurricane Florence was a long-lived Cape Verde hurricane and the wettest tropical cyclone on record in the Carolinas. The sixth named storm, third hurricane, and the first major hurricane of the 2018 Atlantic hurricane season, Florence originated from a strong tropical wave that emerged off the west coast of Africa on August 30, 2018. Florence became a tropical depression near Cape Verde on Aug...
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 Martin 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 Martin 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.