Enter any address in Washington County, North Carolina to see its FEMA flood zone
Tropical storms and hurricanes have been the most frequent flood-related events in Washington County over the past 30 years, with 16 tropical storm events and 9 hurricane events recorded. Recent examples include Tropical Storm Ian in September 2022, which brought heavy rainfall and elevated water levels to Eastern North Carolina, and Hurricane Isaias in August 2020. Flash flooding has also occurred, with 7 events noted in the NOAA Storm Events Database.
The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) has processed 106 claims in Zone A, with an average payout of $14,656 and an average water depth of 1.8 feet. Claims in Zone X, which includes shaded and unshaded areas, show a wider range of payouts and water depths, with Zone X_SHADED having the highest average payout at $65,453 for 2 claims with an average water depth of 2.0 feet.
Residents in Zone A, as well as those in Zone X_SHADED, should pay particular attention to flood risk. Properties located in these zones have experienced significant flood events and associated payouts.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
16 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Washington County, North Carolina has recorded 35 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 7 flash floods and 2 river or area floods. The county has received 24 federal disaster declarations. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1968–2026)
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Tropical Storm | Sep 30, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Tropical Storm | Aug 4, 2020 | — |
| Tropical Storm | Sep 6, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 5, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Tropical Storm | Sep 13, 2018 | 14.00K |
| Tropical Storm | Oct 11, 2018 | — |
| Tropical Storm | Oct 8, 2016 | — |
| Tropical Storm | Jun 6, 2013 | — |
| Tropical Storm | Oct 28, 2012 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 27, 2011 | 0.00K |
Tropical Storm — Sep 30, 2022
Ian initially made landfall on the west coast of Florida as a major category 4 hurricane, and then crossed into the Atlantic and moved northward, making a second landfall on the South Carolina coast near Georgetown as a category 1 hurricane. For Eastern NC, tropical storm force winds, elevated water levels, heavy rainfall of 3 to 6 inches, and a tornado were associated with Ian. Strong high pre...
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...
Tropical Storm — Sep 6, 2019
Hurricane Dorian was the fourth named storm, second hurricane, and first major hurricane of the 2019 Atlantic hurricane season. Dorian formed on August 24, 2019 from a tropical wave in the Central Atlantic and gradually strengthened as it moved toward the Lesser Antilles, becoming a hurricane on August 28. Rapid intensification occurred, and on August 31, Dorian became a Category 4 hurricane. O...
Flash Flood — Sep 5, 2019
Hurricane Dorian was the fourth named storm, second hurricane, and first major hurricane of the 2019 Atlantic hurricane season. Dorian formed on August 24, 2019 from a tropical wave in the Central Atlantic and gradually strengthened as it moved toward the Lesser Antilles, becoming a hurricane on August 28. Rapid intensification occurred, and on August 31, Dorian became a Category 4 hurricane. O...
Tropical Storm — Sep 13, 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 Washington 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 Washington 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.