Trinity Cemetery · Photo: Tradewinds · CC BY-SA 3.0Storms, floods and disasters in Chocowinity
Chocowinity isn’t graded for hazard risk: Chocowinity has 903 residents; we grade towns of 1,000 or more. Flood insurance has paid 7 claims here since 1998.
What Chocowinity 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.
Does Chocowinity flood? Rarely: 7 flood claims since 1998
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Chocowinity, from FEMA’s records.
- Hurricane Dennis3 claims · $71K
- Hurricane Florence1 claim · $5K
- Hurricane Irene1 claim · $9K
Chocowinity isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Beaufort County.6 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Chocowinity
Disasters that paid out in Chocowinity itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Chocowinity), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2019Hurricane Dorian$58K to the Town of Chocowinity for repairs
- 2018Hurricane Florence191 households applied for aid$130K aid approved$125K to the Town of Chocowinity for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $5K
- 2016Hurricane Matthew105 households applied for aid$37K aid approved$85K to the Town of Chocowinity for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene458 households applied for aid$518K aid approved1 flood claim paid for it, $9K
- 2010Severe Storms, Flooding, and Straight-line Winds22 households applied for aid$21K aid approved
- 2003Hurricane Isabel95 households applied for aid$107K aid approved
Beaufort County has had 23 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 Chocowinity after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Chocowinity archive →Get ready for what Chocowinity 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 Chocowinity
Does Chocowinity flood?
Flood insurance has paid 7 claims in Chocowinity since 1998, $121K in all. 1 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Dennis (3).
Is Chocowinity 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 Beaufort County, 56% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 13.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Chocowinity?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Chocowinity’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 Chocowinity?
By FEMA money that reached Chocowinity, Hurricane Irene (2011): 458 households applied for aid, $518K approved. By flood claims, Hurricane Dennis: 3 paid, $71K.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Chocowinity.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Chocowinity’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.