Photo: Maria Miracoli · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Durham as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Durham gets a B− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns, #132 of 290 in North Carolina. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (79%). Flood insurance has paid 276 claims here since 1979.
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 Durham’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Durham 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
Hurricanes
Tornadoes
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 Durham’s grade
River and rain flooding is 79% of the building damage FEMA expects in Durham, and Durham’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 63% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 10% (higher than 81% of U.S. census tracts).
B− #132 of 290 in North Carolina; lower expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Durham’s residents live in 71 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, Durham has less expected damage per building than 55% of North Carolina towns.
Among the 400 U.S. cities of 100,000 or more, Durham has lower expected damage per building than 64% (#143 of 400). Because it is so big, its total expected yearly loss, $77.0M, is the 154th largest of those 400.
Does Durham flood? Yes: 276 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Durham, from FEMA’s records: 2.0 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 61% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Florence38 claims · $847K
- Hurricane Fran36 claims · $353K
- The 2025 July TS Chantal35 claims · $4.6M
Durham is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Durham County.8 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Durham
Disasters that paid out in Durham itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Durham), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2025Tropical Depression Chantal$726K to the City of Durham for repairs40 flood claims paid that year
- 2024Tropical Storm Helene69 households applied for aid$6K aid approved19 flood claims paid for it, $945K
- 2018Hurricane Florence275 households applied for aid$234K aid approved38 flood claims paid for it, $847K
- 2016Hurricane Matthew1 households applied for aid$1K aid approved28 flood claims paid that year
- 2003Hurricane Isabel218 households applied for aid$111K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
- 2002Severe Ice Storm$6.0M to the City of Durham for repairs13 flood claims paid that year
Show all 8
- 2000Severe Winter Storm$264K to the City of Durham for repairs8 flood claims paid that year
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$82K to the City of Durham for repairs8 flood claims paid for it, $15K
Durham County has had 21 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 Durham after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Durham archive →Durham and its neighbors
Durham is 3rd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Gorman | B−less damage than 50% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Chapel Hill | C+more damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 384 |
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 Durham 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.
- 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.
- Pick your spot now: the lowest floor, an inside room, no windows.
- A watch means be ready; a warning means take cover now.
- Keep shoes and a flashlight by the bed.
- 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.
- Durham 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 Durham
Is Durham at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Durham has lower expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #132 of 290 in North Carolina. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (79%) and hurricanes (10%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Durham flood?
Flood insurance has paid 276 claims in Durham since 1979, $9.6M in all, or 2.0 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 61% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 44 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Florence (38).
Is Durham 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 Durham County, 64% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Durham?
Durham 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 Durham?
By FEMA money that reached Durham, Severe Ice Storm (2002): $6.0M to the City of Durham for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Florence: 38 paid, $847K.
Is Durham at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (79%), and Durham’s rate for it is higher than 63% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Durham.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Durham’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.