Enter any address in Northampton County, North Carolina to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from slow-moving thunderstorms is the most frequent flood event in Northampton County, NC. Recent examples include heavy rain events in July 2025 and September 2024, the latter influenced by Tropical Cyclone Helene. These events are characterized by localized, intense rainfall causing rapid water level rises.
Over the past 30 years, Northampton County has experienced 17 flash flood events, alongside 6 general flood events and several tropical storm and hurricane impacts. National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data indicates that properties in Zone A have seen more frequent claims with higher average water depths and payouts compared to Zone X. Homeowners and real estate professionals should pay close attention to properties located in or near identified flood zones, particularly those in Zone A.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
4 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Northampton County, North Carolina has recorded 30 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 17 flash floods and 6 river or area floods. The county has received 25 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 |
| 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 | Jul 15, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 27, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 8, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Nov 12, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Tropical Storm | Aug 4, 2020 | 150.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 28, 2017 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Sep 21, 2016 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Oct 8, 2016 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Oct 8, 2016 | 500.00K |
| Tropical Storm | Sep 2, 2016 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — Jul 15, 2025
A moist and unstable air mass was in place on July 15. This allowed for scattered, slow-moving storms to move across portions of interior northeast North Carolina. These storms produced heavy rain and flash flooding.
Flash Flood — Sep 27, 2024
The combination of moisture from Tropical Cyclone Helene overrunning a frontal boundary produced heavy rain which caused flash flooding across portions of northeast North Carolina.
Flash Flood — Aug 8, 2024
Tropical Cyclone Debby tracking northward from the Carolinas across western Virginia produced heavy rain which caused flash flooding 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.
Tropical Storm — Aug 4, 2020
The center of Tropical Storm Isaias tracked north just inland of the Middle Atlantic Coast from late Monday night, August 3rd through Tuesday morning, August 4th. The tropical storm produced tropical storm force winds and associated wind damage 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 Northampton 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 Northampton 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.