Photo: Piperpet · CC BY-SA 4.0More hazard damage per building is expected in Boiling Spring Lakes than in 97% of U.S. towns, mostly from hurricanes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Boiling Spring Lakes gets a D− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 97% of U.S. towns, #255 of 290 in North Carolina. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (75%), then river and rain flooding (20%). Flood insurance has paid 86 claims here since 1996.
Graded on FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value (NRI v1.20, December 2025), weighted by where residents live; flood claims are shown, not graded. How hazard risk is graded
What stands out about Boiling Spring Lakes’ natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Boiling Spring Lakes faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
Hurricanes
River and rain flooding
Shares are of FEMA’s expected building damage, the measure the grade uses; ranks compare each hazard’s building-damage rate with all 85,154 U.S. census tracts. In FEMA’s terms, river and rain flooding is FEMA’s “Inland Flooding” (rivers and streams overflowing their banks, or rain overwhelming drainage). FEMA defines coastal flooding as high or rising tides and storm surge, so surge damage is counted there. Drought isn’t listed: FEMA counts its losses in crops only.
What’s behind Boiling Spring Lakes’ grade
Hurricanes are 75% of the building damage FEMA expects in Boiling Spring Lakes, and Boiling Spring Lakes’ rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts. Wildfire adds 2%, at a rate in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
D− #255 of 290 in North Carolina; higher expected damage per building than 97% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Boiling Spring Lakes’ residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical North Carolina town has lower expected damage than 51% of U.S. towns; within the state, Boiling Spring Lakes has more expected damage per building than 88% of North Carolina towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.4M a year in losses across Boiling Spring Lakes: $3.6M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Boiling Spring Lakes flood? Sometimes: 86 flood claims since 1996
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Boiling Spring Lakes, from FEMA’s records: 26.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 87% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Florence46 claims · $2.0M
- Tropical Cyclone Eight17 claims · $565K
- Hurricane Floyd8 claims · $72K
Boiling Spring Lakes isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Brunswick County.9 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Boiling Spring Lakes
Disasters that paid out in Boiling Spring Lakes itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Boiling Spring Lakes), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Potential Tropical Cyclone Eight$3.5M to the City of Boiling Spring Lakes for repairs17 flood claims paid that year
- 2019Hurricane Dorian$11K to the City of Boiling Spring Lakes for repairs
- 2018Hurricane Florence54 households applied for aid$28K aid approved$16.7M to the City of Boiling Spring Lakes for repairs46 flood claims paid for it, $2.0M
- 2016Hurricane Matthew1 households applied for aid$29K to the City of Boiling Spring Lakes for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene5 households applied for aid$532 aid approved$4K to the City of Boiling Spring Lakes for repairs
- 2008Tropical Storm Hanna$8K to the City of Boiling Spring Lakes for repairs
Show all 9
- 2005Hurricane Ophelia$20K to the City of Boiling Spring Lakes for repairs2 flood claims paid for it, $4K
- 2005Hurricane Ophelia$3K to the City of Boiling Spring Lakes for repairs2 flood claims paid for it, $4K
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$220K to the City of Boiling Spring Lakes for repairs8 flood claims paid for it, $72K
Brunswick County has had 25 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often hurricanes and tropical storms, then winter storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Also 1 FEMA wildfire suppression grant (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Brunswick County, 2025–2025.
Old photos of Boiling Spring Lakes after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Boiling Spring Lakes archive →Boiling Spring Lakes and its neighbors
Boiling Spring Lakes has the lowest expected damage per building of the 2 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boiling Spring Lakes | D−more damage than 97% | hurricanes | 86 |
| Oak Island | D−more damage than 97% | hurricanes | 912 |
Hazard risk = FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade; the map is shaded by fifths of the same scale. Flood claims = paid federal flood insurance claims on record.
Get ready for what Boiling Spring Lakes faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- The season runs June through November and peaks from mid-August to mid-October.
- Bring in porch furniture and anything the wind can throw.
- Fill the gas tank and charge phones before the storm arrives.
- Turn around at flooded roads: a foot of moving water can carry off a car.
- Flood insurance usually takes 30 days to start, so buy it before the forecast.
- Keep papers and medicines up high, in a grab-and-go bag.
- Look up the address on FEMA’s flood map.
- Ask the seller or landlord whether it has ever flooded, and what flood insurance costs there.
- Get a flood insurance quote early: policies usually start 30 days after you buy.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Boiling Spring Lakes
Is Boiling Spring Lakes at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Boiling Spring Lakes has higher expected damage per building than 97% of U.S. towns: D− for hazard risk, #255 of 290 in North Carolina. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (75%) and river and rain flooding (20%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Boiling Spring Lakes flood?
Flood insurance has paid 86 claims in Boiling Spring Lakes since 1996, $2.7M in all, or 26.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 87% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 9 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Florence (46).
Is Boiling Spring Lakes in a flood zone?
Flood zones are drawn street by street, so the answer depends on the address: look it up on FEMA’s flood map. In Brunswick County, 78% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 21.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Boiling Spring Lakes?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Boiling Spring Lakes’ flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Boiling Spring Lakes?
By FEMA money that reached Boiling Spring Lakes, Hurricane Florence (2018): 54 households applied for aid, $28K approved, and $16.7M to the City of Boiling Spring Lakes for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Florence: 46 paid, $2.0M.
Is Boiling Spring Lakes at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (75%), and Boiling Spring Lakes’ rate for it is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Boiling Spring Lakes.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Boiling Spring Lakes’ residents lived in the 2020 census; OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. Preparedness tips: Ready.gov. FEMA’s model is an average of expected damage, not a forecast. How hazard risk is graded.