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CHazard risk
Natural hazards in Canton · FEMA

FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Canton than in 72% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Canton gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 72% of U.S. towns, #209 of 290 in North Carolina. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (87%). Flood insurance has paid 101 claims here since 1983.

River and rain flooding 87%Earthquakes 4%Tornadoes 4%

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

more than 72%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade#209 of 290 in North Carolina
Hazard risk
C#209 of 290
in North Carolina · higher than 72% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
River and rain flooding
87% of expected building damage
Flood claims
101
paid since 1983 · $9.1M
Flooded more than once
13
properties · 1 “severe repetitive loss”
Disasters paid out here
5
of 17 declared for Haywood County

What stands out about Canton’s natural hazards

From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.

101 paid flood claims since 1983$9.1M in all; 13 properties flooded more than once. More per home than 92% of U.S. towns.Landslides: the top 2% of U.S. tractsFEMA’s building-damage rate for landslides here ranks in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts; it is 0.3% of the damage it expects.Moved out of harm’s way81 flood-prone properties bought out and cleared; 6 homes raised above flood level with FEMA grants.Remembers 200438 flood claims were paid for 2004 alone, the most of any year.
By hazard

What Canton faces

Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.

River and rain flooding

87%of expected building damage
Well above average · higher than 83% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about once a year in the area
Smaller shares here
 Earthquakes Tornadoes Ice storms Hurricanes Hail Strong wind Landslides top 2% Wildfire Lightning Winter storms Cold waves
FEMA models no building damage here
Coastal floodingHeat wavesAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity
People, not buildings.Counting harm to people as well as buildings, FEMA’s model puts cold waves at 27% of Canton’s expected losses. Cold waves do little damage to buildings (0.0%), so they aren’t part of the grade.

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.

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.
Hazard risk grade

What’s behind Canton’s grade

River and rain flooding is 87% of the building damage FEMA expects in Canton, and Canton’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 83% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 3%, at a rate in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts.

Where Canton sits
Canton
Least damageMiddleMost damage

C #209 of 290 in North Carolina; higher expected damage per building than 72% of U.S. towns (21,298).

Canton’s residents live in 4 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.

What drives the damage to buildings
River and rain flooding87%Earthquakes4%Tornadoes4%Everything else6%

The typical North Carolina town has lower expected damage than 51% of U.S. towns; within the state, Canton has more expected damage per building than 72% of North Carolina towns.

In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.8M a year in losses across Canton: $1.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

Recent disaster.FEMA’s model looks at expected damage to the buildings standing today. After Tropical Storm Helene in 2024, FEMA took 3,669 aid registrations from Canton addresses (the town has 2,094 homes) and flood insurance paid 27 claims for $2.9M.
A small-area figure. Canton covers 4 census tracts, combined by where residents live. FEMA’s model is an average year for today’s buildings, not a record: the claims and disasters below are the record.

How TownRatings grades hazard risk →

Flood insurance claims

Does Canton flood? Yes: 101 flood claims since 1983

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Canton, from FEMA’s records: 48.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 92% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
1983: 9 claims1984: 0 claims1985: 0 claims1986: 0 claims1987: 0 claims1988: 0 claims1989: 0 claims1990: 0 claims1991: 0 claims1992: 0 claims1993: 0 claims1994: 1 claim1995: 2 claims1996: 0 claims1997: 0 claims1998: 0 claims1999: 0 claims2000: 0 claims2001: 0 claims2002: 0 claims2003: 0 claims2004: 38 claims2005: 0 claims2006: 0 claims2007: 0 claims2008: 0 claims2009: 0 claims2010: 0 claims2011: 0 claims2012: 0 claims2013: 0 claims2014: 0 claims2015: 0 claims2016: 0 claims2017: 0 claims2018: 0 claims2019: 0 claims2020: 0 claims2021: 24 claims2022: 0 claims2023: 0 claims2024: 27 claims2025: 0 claims2026: 0 claims200420212024
19832026
Biggest named events
  • Hurricane Helene27 claims · $2.9M
  • Tropical Storm Fred23 claims · $3.1M
  • Tropical Storm Ivan17 claims · $677K
101
paid claims since 1983
$9.1M
paid to owners
13
homes flooded more than once
$90K
average claim
Homes that flooded again and again
FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (1)Flooded 2+ times
of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
No community discount

Canton isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Haywood County.
What’s been done with FEMA grants
81flood-prone properties bought out and cleared
6homes raised above flood level
Disasters

5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Canton

Disasters that paid out in Canton itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Canton), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.

  1. 2024Tropical Storm Helene3,669 households applied for aid$13.0M aid approved$3.9M to the Town of Canton for repairs27 flood claims paid for it, $2.9M
  2. 2021Remnants of Tropical Storm Fred931 households applied for aid$3.2M aid approved$7.9M to the Town of Canton for repairs23 flood claims paid for it, $3.1M
  3. 2009Severe Winter Storms and Flooding$41K to the Town of Canton for repairs
  4. 2004Hurricane Ivan623 households applied for aid$2.0M aid approved$455K to the Town of Canton for repairs17 flood claims paid for it, $677K
  5. 2004Tropical Storm Frances334 households applied for aid$1.5M aid approved$752K to the Town of Canton for repairs
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in CantonHaywood County only

Haywood County has had 17 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.

Were you here?

Old photos of Canton after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.

Add to the Canton archive →
Next door

Canton and its neighbors

Canton has the lowest expected damage per building of the 2 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.

West Canton: hazard risk C−West CantonCanton
Lowest fifthSecondMiddleFourthHighest fifth
TownHazard riskMostly (buildings)Flood claims
CantonCmore damage than 72%river and rain flooding101
West CantonC−more damage than 83%river and rain flooding—

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.

Be ready

Get ready for what Canton faces

A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.

When the river rises
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Before you buy or rent
  • 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.
When a storm is coming
Forecast and alertsWeather →911, the nearest ERSafety →

Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.

Questions about natural hazards in Canton

Is Canton at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Canton has higher expected damage per building than 72% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #209 of 290 in North Carolina. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (87%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Does Canton flood?

Flood insurance has paid 101 claims in Canton since 1983, $9.1M in all, or 48.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 92% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 13 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Helene (27).

Is Canton 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 Haywood County, 27% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 2.0% of all homes do.

How much is flood insurance in Canton?

FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Canton’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 Canton?

By FEMA money that reached Canton, Tropical Storm Helene (2024): 3,669 households applied for aid, $13.0M approved, and $3.9M to the Town of Canton for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Helene: 27 paid, $2.9M.

Is Canton at risk from river and rain flooding?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (87%), and Canton’s rate for it is higher than 83% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Canton.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Canton’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.