Enter any address in Onslow County, North Carolina to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from thunderstorms is the most frequent type of flood event in Onslow County, NC, with 47 recorded instances in the last 30 years. This is followed by general flooding (13 events) and tropical storms (5 events). Recent events include flash flooding in August 2023, associated with the remnants of Hurricane Idalia, and flash flooding in August 2024, linked to Tropical Storm Debby.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) data indicates a significant number of claims have been filed in Onslow County. Zone A areas have the highest number of claims at 2,521, with an average payout of $14,110 and an average water depth of 4.8 feet. Zone V areas have seen 669 claims with an average payout of $17,642 and an average water depth of 3.7 feet. Properties in Zone X also experience flooding, with 358 claims averaging $25,133 and 3.0 feet of water depth.
Homeowners in coastal areas, those near rivers or streams, and properties located in Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs) such as Zones A and V, should pay particular attention to flood risks. Residents in Zone X, which includes areas with moderate flood risk, should also be aware of potential flooding, as evidenced by the claims data.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
20 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Onslow County, North Carolina has recorded 66 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 47 flash floods and 13 river or area floods. The county has received 30 federal disaster declarations. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1996–2026)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Winter Storm | Winter Storm | Jan 21, 2026 |
| Hurricane Helene | Tropical Storm | Sep 25, 2024 |
| Potential Tropical Cyclone Eight | Tropical Storm | Sep 16, 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 | May 28, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 13, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 12, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 1, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 8, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Tropical Storm | Aug 8, 2024 | — |
| Flash Flood | Aug 31, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 9, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 5, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Tropical Storm | Sep 30, 2022 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — May 28, 2025
Slow moving thunderstorms produced isolated areas of flash flooding.
Flash Flood — May 13, 2025
Slow moving thunderstorms produced isolated areas of flash flooding.
Flash Flood — May 12, 2025
Slow moving thunderstorms produced isolated areas of flash flooding.
Flash Flood — Aug 1, 2025
Slow moving thunderstorms produced isolated areas of flash flooding.
Flash Flood — Aug 8, 2024
After making landfall in the Big Bend area of Florida as a Category 1 hurricane on August 5, Debby weakened to a tropical storm as it slowly moved across southeastern Georgia and offshore. Tropical Storm Debby then came ashore in South Carolina after stalling off the southeast coast for several days. Debby gradually progressed northward through central North Carolina and eventually into souther...
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 Onslow 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 Onslow 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.