Enter any address in Sampson County, North Carolina to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from heavy rainfall events is the most frequent type of flooding in Sampson County. Recent examples include flash flooding on July 1, 2024, following scattered showers and storms, and on August 8, 2024, associated with Tropical Depression Debby.
The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) data shows that properties in Zone A have experienced a significant number of claims, with an average payout of $35,504 and an average water depth of 2.4 feet. Properties in Zone X have also seen numerous claims, with a higher average payout of $45,142, though the average water depth was 1.0 foot. Homeowners in Zone A, Zone X, and areas with unknown flood zone designations should pay close attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
34 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Sampson County, North Carolina has recorded 68 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 54 flash floods and 3 river or area floods. The county has received 25 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 |
| Tropical Storm Eta | Severe Storm | Nov 12, 2020 |
| 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 | Sep 27, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 10, 2024 | 4.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 8, 2024 | 2.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 1, 2024 | 10.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 1, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 31, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 19, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Dec 17, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 14, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Tropical Storm | Sep 30, 2022 | 0.75M |
Flash Flood — Sep 27, 2024
Hurricane Helene weakened to a strong tropical storm on the morning of 27 September across northeast Georgia. Helene continued to track to the west and northwest into the Tennessee Valley. Widespread rainfall totals of 2-4 inches of rain fell over central North Carolina, along with wind gusts of 25-45 mph. Additionally, four tornadoes occurred, with the strongest an EF3, touching down over Rock...
Flash Flood — Aug 10, 2024
A stalled cold front focused showers and thunderstorms over the Sandhills to Coastal Plain of central North Carolina. Storms over Sampson County led to isolated flash flooding, particularly over the southern half of the county.
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...
Flash Flood — Jul 1, 2024
A wave of scattered to numerous showers and storms developed from the northern Coastal Plain into the eastern Sandhills and southern Coastal Plain late in the evening of June 30th and continued into the morning hours of July 1st. This wave of storms was along a cold front sliding south from the Ohio Valley. Several inches of rain led to flash flooding in Sampson County.
Flash Flood — Aug 31, 2023
Tropical storm Idalia, which tracked east-northeast off the North Carolina coast, brought several inches of rainfall to central North Carolina. Isolated flash flooding was reported in Sampson County.
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 Sampson 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 Sampson 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.