Enter any address in Transylvania County, North Carolina to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding and general flooding events have been the most frequent types of flood-related incidents in Transylvania County over the past 30 years, with 47 flash flood events and 50 flood events recorded. Recent examples include heavy rainfall associated with Tropical Cyclone Helene in September 2024, which caused both flood and flash flood conditions.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data shows that properties in Zone A have experienced the highest number of claims, with an average payout of $47,947 and an average water depth of 4.1 feet. Properties in Zone X have also seen claims, averaging $13,303 with 2.0 feet of water depth. While less frequent, Zone V properties have experienced significant water depth, with one claim showing an average of 10.0 feet.
Homeowners in Zone A and Zone V, as well as those located near rivers or in areas prone to flash flooding, should pay particular attention to flood risk. Residents in Zone X and X_shaded areas should also be aware of potential flood impacts, as claims have been recorded in these zones as well.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
38 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Transylvania County, North Carolina has recorded 99 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 47 flash floods and 50 river or area floods. The county has received 18 federal disaster declarations, 1 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1993–2026)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Winter Storm | Winter Storm | Jan 21, 2026 |
| Table Rock Fire | Fire | Mar 26, 2025 |
| Hurricane Helene | Tropical Storm | Sep 25, 2024 |
| Tropical Storm Helene | Tropical Storm | Sep 25, 2024 |
| Hurricane Ian | Hurricane | Sep 28, 2022 |
| Remnants Of Tropical Storm Fred | Hurricane | Aug 16, 2021 |
| 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 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | Dec 29, 2024 | 2.00K |
| Flood | Sep 27, 2024 | 10.00K |
| Tropical Storm | Sep 27, 2024 | 5.00M |
| Flash Flood | Sep 26, 2024 | 50.00M |
| Flash Flood | Sep 26, 2024 | 1.00K |
| Flood | Jan 9, 2024 | 1.00K |
| Flood | May 27, 2022 | 1.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 26, 2022 | 1.00K |
| Flash Flood | Mar 23, 2022 | 1.00K |
| Flood | Mar 25, 2021 | 10.00K |
Flood — Dec 29, 2024
A broken line of low-topped heavy rain showers and embedded thunderstorms developing ahead of a cold front moved from upstate South Carolina into the North Carolina foothills and western Piedmont shortly after sunrise, and moved across the area throughout the late morning. The showers and storms produced areas of strong-to-damaging wind gusts, while a couple of EF0 tornadoes also occurred.
Flood — Sep 27, 2024
Tropical Cyclone Helene began organizing over the western Caribbean on the 23rd and 24th of September before rapidly intensifying as it moved north through the eastern Gulf of Mexico on the 25th and 26th. A plume of moisture extending from the intensifying storm interacted with a slow-moving cold front to produce a band of widespread heavy rain showers and embedded scattered thunderstorms over ...
Tropical Storm — Sep 27, 2024
Tropical Cyclone Helene began organizing over the western Caribbean on the 23rd and 24th of September before rapidly intensifying as it moved north through the eastern Gulf of Mexico on the 25th and 26th. A plume of moisture extending from the intensifying storm interacted with a slow-moving cold front to produce a band of widespread heavy rain showers and embedded scattered thunderstorms over ...
Flash Flood — Sep 26, 2024
Tropical Cyclone Helene began organizing over the western Caribbean on the 23rd and 24th of September before rapidly intensifying as it moved north through the eastern Gulf of Mexico on the 25th and 26th. A plume of moisture extending from the intensifying storm interacted with a slow-moving cold front to produce a band of widespread heavy rain showers and embedded scattered thunderstorms over ...
Flood — Jan 9, 2024
A major/complex frontal system brought widespread rain with embedded thunderstorms to western North Carolina, mainly during the afternoon of the 9th. Widespread rainfall amounts of 3 to 5 inches (with locally higher amounts) in around 12 hours resulted in numerous reports of flooding. Isolated severe thunderstorms also resulted in a number of damaging wind gusts reports over the Piedmont, along...
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 Transylvania 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 Transylvania 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.