Carpenter Historic District · Photo: KimWrenn · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Cary faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Cary gets a B− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns, #137 of 290 in North Carolina. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%). Flood insurance has paid 160 claims here since 1995.
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 Cary’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Cary 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
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 Cary’s grade
River and rain flooding is 85% of the building damage FEMA expects in Cary, and Cary’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 67% of U.S. census tracts.
B− #137 of 290 in North Carolina; lower expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Cary’s residents live in 47 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, Cary has less expected damage per building than 53% of North Carolina towns.
Among the 400 U.S. cities of 100,000 or more, Cary has lower expected damage per building than 62% (#153 of 400). Because it is so big, its total expected yearly loss, $52.1M, is the 235th largest of those 400.
Does Cary flood? Yes: 160 flood claims since 1995
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Cary, from FEMA’s records: 2.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 60% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Matthew29 claims · $415K
- Hurricane Fran4 claims · $33K
- Hurricane Charley2 claims · $5K
Cary is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Wake County.6 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Cary
Disasters that paid out in Cary itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Cary), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Tropical Storm Helene23 households applied for aid$1K aid approved
- 2016Hurricane Matthew37 households applied for aid$52K aid approved$202K to the Town of Cary for repairs29 flood claims paid for it, $415K
- 2003Hurricane Isabel9 households applied for aid$2K aid approved$169K to the Town of Cary for repairs6 flood claims paid that year
- 2002Severe Ice Storm$1.9M to the Town of Cary for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
- 2000Severe Winter Storm$186K to the Town of Cary for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$266K to the Town of Cary for repairs2 flood claims paid for it, $12K
Wake 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 Cary after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Cary archive →Cary and its neighbors
Cary is 6th of the 6 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apex | B+less damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Holly Springs | Bless damage than 59% | river and rain flooding | 12 |
| Morrisville | Bless damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Raleigh | B−less damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 900 |
| Durham | B−less damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | 276 |
| Cary | B−less damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 160 |
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 Cary faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- 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.
- Cary residents get 15% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Cary
Is Cary at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Cary has lower expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #137 of 290 in North Carolina. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Cary flood?
Flood insurance has paid 160 claims in Cary since 1995, $2.8M in all, or 2.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 60% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 19 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Matthew (29).
Is Cary 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 Wake County, 46% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.8% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Cary?
Cary is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7), which takes 15% off federal flood insurance policies for its flood-proofing work. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Cary?
By FEMA money that reached Cary, Severe Ice Storm (2002): $1.9M to the Town of Cary for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Matthew: 29 paid, $415K.
Is Cary at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (85%), and Cary’s rate for it is higher than 67% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Cary.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Cary’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.