Enter any address in Pender County, North Carolina to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from thunderstorms is the most frequent type of flood event in Pender County, NC, accounting for 66 occurrences in the last 30 years. Other flood-related events include tropical storms, hurricanes, storm surge, and coastal flooding. Recent flash flood events occurred in August 2024, following the path of Tropical Storm Debby.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) data shows that Zone A has the highest number of claims, with an average payout of $22,539 and an average water depth of 3.0 feet. Zone V also has a significant number of claims, averaging $10,317 in payouts and 1.7 feet of water. Properties in Zone X, while fewer in number, have the highest average payout of $35,873, with an average water depth of 1.2 feet.
Homeowners in coastal areas, as well as those in low-lying regions or near rivers and streams, should pay close attention to flood risk. Properties located in Zone A and Zone V, which are typically more vulnerable to inundation, warrant particular attention.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
32 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Pender County, North Carolina has recorded 112 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 66 flash floods and 26 river or area floods. The county has received 31 federal disaster declarations. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1984–2026)
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 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Feb 6, 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 | Aug 11, 2024 | 1.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 9, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 9, 2024 | 1.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 8, 2024 | 1.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 31, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Tropical Storm | Sep 22, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jul 20, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Storm Surge/Tide | Sep 30, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Tropical Storm | Sep 30, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Coastal Flood | Nov 6, 2021 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — Aug 11, 2024
Deep moisture and a stalled frontal boundary left the area very susceptible to flash flooding from isolated, slow moving storms.
Flash Flood — Aug 9, 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 before making another landfall along the central SC coast between Charleston and Georgetown. The storm then moved northwest to near the SC/NC border and weakened to a tropical depression on August 8 before qui...
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 before making another landfall along the central SC coast between Charleston and Georgetown. The storm then moved northwest to near the SC/NC border and weakened to a tropical depression on August 8 before qui...
Flash Flood — Aug 31, 2023
Tropical Storm Idalia moved northeast across southeast North Carolina bringing flooding from heavy rain and storm surge, a few tropical storm force wind gusts and tornadoes late August 30 into August 31. Previously the storm was a Category 4 hurricane. weakening to Category 3 as it made landfall near Perry, Florida. Locally all sustained tropical storm force winds remained offshore.
Tropical Storm — Sep 22, 2023
Tropical Storm Ophelia developed from a non-tropical low off the Southeast U.S. coast and moved northward off the coasts of northeast SC and southeast NC before making landfall at Emerald Isle, NC during the early morning of September 23, 2023. The storm caused minor impacts across southeast NC and northeast SC, mainly in the form of hazardous marine and surf conditions, but also from tropical ...
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 Pender 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 Pender 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.