Enter any address in Orange County, North Carolina to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from heavy rainfall events is the most frequent type of flooding in Orange County, NC, accounting for 75 events in the last 30 years. For example, Tropical Storm Chantal in July 2025 brought record rainfall of up to 11 inches to the Piedmont region, causing catastrophic flash flooding and contributing to fatalities across several counties, including Orange. Other flood-producing events in the past three decades include hurricanes and tropical storms.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) data shows that Zone A, typically areas with higher flood risk, has had the most claims, with an average payout of $71,511 and an average water depth of 3.3 feet. Properties in Zone X also experience flooding, with an average payout of $46,366 and an average water depth of 5.5 feet, indicating that flood risk is not limited to designated high-risk zones. Homeowners, journalists, and real estate agents should pay close attention to flood risk, particularly those in or near Zone A, and understand that properties in other zones can also be affected by flood events.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
45 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Orange County, North Carolina has recorded 85 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 75 flash floods and 4 river or area floods. The county has received 26 federal disaster declarations. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1977–2026)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Winter Storm | Winter Storm | Jan 21, 2026 |
| Tropical Depression Chantal | Tropical Depression | Jul 6, 2025 |
| 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 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | May 29, 2025 | 50.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 29, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 19, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 15, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 14, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 14, 2025 | 5.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 14, 2025 | 1.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 14, 2025 | 3.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 13, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 9, 2025 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — May 29, 2025
Storms over South Carolina in association with a mid-level system tracked into central North Carolina in the afternoon and evening hours. The storms initially produced a wind damage and isolated hail threat. Thereafter, the event evolved into a flash flood threat, with training and back building storms resulting in 3 or more inches per hour rainfall rates from Albemarle to Greensboro to Burling...
Flash Flood — Jul 19, 2025
An upper-level disturbance moved across central North Carolina, triggering storms that produced damaging wind gusts and a few reports of flash flooding.
Flash Flood — Jul 15, 2025
Isolated to scattered showers and storms developed along the border with southeastern Virginia in the afternoon hours. The storms then propagated south and southwest during the evening hours. Several reports of flooding were observed, along with a few wind damage reports.
Flash Flood — May 14, 2025
A trough over the Ohio valley region produced a wave of scattered to numerous showers and storms during the afternoon through mid-evening hours across the eastern Piedmont, Sandhills, and Coastal Plain of central North Carolina. Isolated reports of flash flooding, downed trees and hail were reported.
Flash Flood — Jul 14, 2025
A weak surface trough over the region focused isolated to scattered storms mainly across the Piedmont of central North Carolina in the afternoon and evening hours. A few storms were slow-moving, resulting in localized 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 Orange 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 Orange 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.