Enter any address in Richmond County, North Carolina to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from heavy rainfall events is the most frequent type of flood recorded in Richmond County over the last 30 years, with 20 such events noted. This includes occurrences like the flash floods on August 8, 2024, driven by Tropical Depression Debby, which brought widespread heavy rain to the region. Tropical Storms and Hurricanes have also impacted the county, with four events of each type recorded in the same period, such as Hurricane Ian in September 2022, which caused widespread wind gusts and heavy rainfall.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) data shows that while Zone A areas have had more claims (10), Zone X areas have experienced higher average payouts ($17,876) and significant water depths (0.6 ft), indicating that flooding can affect properties outside of the highest-risk zones. Homeowners in areas designated as Zone A, as well as those in Zone X, should pay close attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
12 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Richmond County, North Carolina has recorded 32 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 20 flash floods and 4 river or area floods. The county has received 20 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 |
| 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 8, 2024 | 5.00K |
| Tropical Storm | Sep 30, 2022 | 1.00M |
| Flash Flood | Nov 12, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Sep 17, 2018 | 21.80M |
| Flash Flood | Sep 16, 2018 | 0.00K |
| Tropical Storm | Sep 13, 2018 | 1.00M |
| Tropical Storm | Oct 11, 2018 | 50.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 23, 2017 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 29, 2016 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Oct 8, 2016 | 45.00K |
Flash Flood — Aug 8, 2024
Tropical Depression Debby slowly made its way through Florida, off the South Carolina coast, then back inland through the western Piedmont of North Carolina during the evening hours of 8 August 2024. Ahead of the storm, numerous feeder bands brought periods of heavy rain to central North Carolina, resulting in widespread 4-6 inch rainfall amounts across the western Piedmont, with higher amounts...
Tropical Storm — Sep 30, 2022
Hurricane Ian made landfall along the South Carolina coast near Georgetown during the early afternoon hours of September 30, 2022. Widespread wind gusts over tropical storm force and heavy rainfall occurred across much of central North Carolina through the afternoon and evening hours. There were numerous reports of wind damage and power outages as a result of the storm.
Flash Flood — Nov 12, 2020
Moisture from Tropical Storm Eta was drawn northward into the Mid Atlantic during the day of Wednesday November 11th. Meanwhile, a slow moving cold front approached the area and made its way through central North Carolina during the day Thursday, resulting in widespread showers and isolated thunderstorms. Rainfall totals were generally in the 4 to 6 inches range, although some spots near Rocky ...
Flood — Sep 17, 2018
A ridge of high pressure over eastern North America stalled Florence's forward motion a few miles off the southeast North Carolina coast on September 13th. Hurricane Florence made landfall near Wrightsville Beach early on Saturday September 15, and weakened further as it moved slowly inland. Despite making landfall as a weakened|Category 1 hurricane, Florence still produced 40 to 70 mph wind g...
Flash Flood — Sep 16, 2018
A ridge of high pressure over eastern North America stalled Florence's forward motion a few miles off the southeast North Carolina coast on September 13th. Hurricane Florence made landfall near Wrightsville Beach early on Saturday September 15, and weakened further as it moved slowly inland. Despite making landfall as a weakened|Category 1 hurricane, Florence still produced 40 to 70 mph wind g...
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 Richmond 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 Richmond 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.