Pender County Courthouse · Photo: Indy beetle · CC0On FEMA’s figures, Burgaw faces more hazard damage per building than 97% of U.S. towns, mostly from hurricanes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Burgaw gets a D− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 97% of U.S. towns, #258 of 290 in North Carolina. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (69%), then river and rain flooding (25%). Flood insurance has paid 37 claims here since 1998.
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 Burgaw’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Burgaw 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 Burgaw’s grade
Hurricanes are 69% of the building damage FEMA expects in Burgaw, and Burgaw’s rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts. Wildfire adds 1%, at a rate in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts.
D− #258 of 290 in North Carolina; higher expected damage per building than 97% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Burgaw’s residents live in 3 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, Burgaw has more expected damage per building than 89% of North Carolina towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.5M a year in losses across Burgaw: $2.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Burgaw flood? Sometimes: 37 flood claims since 1998
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Burgaw, from FEMA’s records: 28.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 88% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Florence21 claims · $1.9M
- Hurricane Floyd5 claims · $139K
- Hurricane Bonnie3 claims · $19K
Burgaw isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Pender County.12 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Burgaw
Disasters that paid out in Burgaw itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Burgaw), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Tropical Storm Debby$58K to the Town of Burgaw for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $8K
- 2022Hurricane Ian$28K to the Town of Burgaw for repairs
- 2020Hurricane Isaias$62K to the Town of Burgaw for repairs
- 2019Hurricane Dorian$57K to the Town of Burgaw for repairs
- 2018Hurricane Florence1,761 households applied for aid$7.0M aid approved$332K to the Town of Burgaw for repairs21 flood claims paid for it, $1.9M
- 2016Hurricane Matthew239 households applied for aid$261K aid approved$62K to the Town of Burgaw for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $9K
Show all 12
- 2011Hurricane Irene98 households applied for aid$100K aid approved$52K to the Town of Burgaw for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms, Flooding, and Straight-line Winds85 households applied for aid$122K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
- 2005Hurricane Ophelia$3K to the Town of Burgaw for repairs
- 2003Hurricane Isabel147 households applied for aid$97K aid approved$16K to the Town of Burgaw for repairs
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$163K to the Town of Burgaw for repairs5 flood claims paid for it, $139K
- 1999Hurricane Dennis$1K to the Town of Burgaw for repairs
Pender County has had 22 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.
Old photos of Burgaw after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Burgaw archive →Get ready for what Burgaw 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 Burgaw
Is Burgaw at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Burgaw has higher expected damage per building than 97% of U.S. towns: D− for hazard risk, #258 of 290 in North Carolina. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (69%) and river and rain flooding (25%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Burgaw flood?
Flood insurance has paid 37 claims in Burgaw since 1998, $2.0M in all, or 28.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 88% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 4 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Florence (21).
Is Burgaw 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 Pender County, 68% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 16.1% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Burgaw?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Burgaw’s 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 Burgaw?
By FEMA money that reached Burgaw, Hurricane Florence (2018): 1,761 households applied for aid, $7.0M approved, and $332K to the Town of Burgaw for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Florence: 21 paid, $1.9M.
Is Burgaw at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (69%), and Burgaw’s rate for it is in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Burgaw.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Burgaw’s 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.