Enter any address in Pamlico County, North Carolina to see its FEMA flood zone
Pamlico County experiences a mix of flood types, with tropical storms, flash floods, and hurricanes being the most frequent over the last 30 years. Recent events include storm surge and tide from Tropical Storm Ophelia in September 2023, and flash flooding near Merritt in July 2022 following heavy rain.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) data shows that Zone A properties have experienced the highest number of claims, with an average payout of $22,227 and an average water depth of 3.4 feet. Zone X properties also see significant claims, averaging $18,371 with 1.7 feet of water. Properties in Zone V have the highest average payout at $38,563, though with a lower average water depth of 1.5 feet. Homeowners in coastal areas, those near waterways, and properties located in Zone A or V should pay particular attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
19 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Pamlico County, North Carolina has recorded 44 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 12 flash floods and 1 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 (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 | Aug 14, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Storm Surge/Tide | Sep 23, 2023 | — |
| Flash Flood | Jul 15, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Tropical Storm | Aug 4, 2020 | — |
| Flash Flood | Sep 15, 2018 | 0.00K |
| Tropical Storm | Sep 13, 2018 | 29.90M |
| Tropical Storm | Oct 11, 2018 | — |
| Flash Flood | Oct 8, 2016 | 0.00K |
| Tropical Storm | Oct 8, 2016 | — |
| Tropical Storm | Sep 2, 2016 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — Aug 14, 2025
Slow moving thunderstorms produced isolated areas of flash flooding.
Storm Surge/Tide — Sep 23, 2023
On Thursday, September 21st, an area of low pressure begin to develop and get more organized off the Southeast US coastline. That low continued to deepen and become more organized, eventually taking on tropical characteristics, becoming the 15th named storm of the 2023 Atlantic Hurricane Season on Friday, September 22nd. Ophelia developed into a strong tropical storm and moved north over the ne...
Flash Flood — Jul 15, 2022
An area of heavy rain and thunderstorms moved over the same area of Pamlico County on the morning of July 15th to produce flash flooding near Merritt. The previous night a similar pattern produced flash flooding in Greenville.
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...
Flash Flood — Sep 15, 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 Pamlico 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 Pamlico 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.