Enter any address in Wilkes County, North Carolina to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from intense rainfall events is the dominant flood character in Wilkes County. Recent examples include a flash flood event on May 18, 2024, triggered by an upper-level trough and abundant moisture, and another flash flood on August 8, 2024, associated with the remnants of Hurricane Debbie, which brought strong winds and heavy rainfall.
Over the past 30 years, NOAA Storm Events data shows 64 flash flood events and 21 flood events, indicating a consistent pattern of rapid inundation. National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data reveals that properties in Zone A have experienced an average of 12 claims with an average payout of $46,356 and 0.8 feet of water depth. Properties in Zone X have had 9 claims with an average payout of $4,523 and 0.3 feet of water depth. Notably, three claims in Zone UNKNOWN resulted in a significantly higher average payout of $98,653 with an average water depth of 4.0 feet.
Homeowners in Zone A, as well as those in Zone X and particularly those in the UNKNOWN zone, should pay close attention to flood risk. Residents with properties located in areas prone to rapid water level rise, regardless of their designated flood zone, are advised to be aware of potential flood hazards.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
51 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Wilkes County, North Carolina has recorded 86 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 64 flash floods and 21 river or area floods. The county has received 22 federal disaster declarations, 3 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. 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 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 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Sep 27, 2024 | 3.00M |
| Flash Flood | Sep 26, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 18, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jan 9, 2024 | 25.00K |
| Flood | Jan 9, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 8, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Oct 29, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Oct 29, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Oct 29, 2020 | 150.00K |
| Flash Flood | Oct 29, 2020 | 20.00K |
Flash Flood — Sep 27, 2024
Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida as a powerful Category 4 hurricane late Thursday, September 26, and moved quickly northward into the southeastern states, and then turned slightly northwestward towards the southern Appalachian Mountains overnight into Friday morning, weakening as it moved over land. Helene���s intensity and fast forward motion led to impacts being felt well inlan...
Flash Flood — Sep 26, 2024
An upper level low was situated in the vicinity of western Tennessee, while a strong upper ridge was positioned over the southeast coast, which helped to steer Hurricane Helene into the Florida Big Bend during the evening of September 26. Ahead of Helene, the Predecessor Rainfall Event (PRE) that developed on the 25th continued to intensify as upper level areas of low pressure rotating around t...
Flash Flood — May 18, 2024
An upper level trough passed across the central Appalachians during the afternoon and evening of May 18th, triggering widely scattered showers and thunderstorms to the north of a stationary front stretching across northern North Carolina. Upper level winds ahead of the trough were light. Moisture was abundant, with precipitable water values ranging from 1.2 to 1.3 inches across northwest Nort...
Flood — Jan 9, 2024
A deep, negatively tilted upper level trough and associated occluded front passed from the central Mississippi River Valley on January 9th toward the lower New England region by the morning of the 10th. Strong southerly wind flow ahead of the upper trough carried deep moisture from the Gulf of Mexico northward into the Carolinas and the lower Mid-Atlantic. Precipitable water values ranged from ...
Flash Flood — Aug 8, 2024
The remnants of Hurricane Debbie moved north toward the area on August 8th, 2024. A strong southeast flow of wind on the system's northern extent, along with wet soils due to heavy rainfall, helped to cause downed trees and power lines over portions of North Carolina. Winds gusted to at least 30 to 35 mph in parts of the area with stronger gusts suspected close to 45 mph. The strong winds conti...
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 Wilkes 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 Wilkes 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.