Old Brick House · Photo: Harvey Harrison · CC BY-SA 3.0More hazard damage per building is expected in Elizabeth City than in 73% of U.S. towns, mostly from hurricanes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Elizabeth City gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 73% of U.S. towns, #213 of 290 in North Carolina. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (57%), then river and rain flooding (35%). Flood insurance has paid 236 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 Elizabeth City’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Elizabeth City 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 Elizabeth City’s grade
Hurricanes are 57% of the building damage FEMA expects in Elizabeth City, and Elizabeth City’s rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 7% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 3%, at a rate in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
C #213 of 290 in North Carolina; higher expected damage per building than 73% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Elizabeth City’s residents live in 9 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, Elizabeth City has more expected damage per building than 73% of North Carolina towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $7.8M a year in losses across Elizabeth City: $6.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Elizabeth City flood? Yes: 236 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Elizabeth City, from FEMA’s records: 27.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 87% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Floyd52 claims · $1.1M
- Hurricane Matthew52 claims · $2.2M
- Hurricane Isabel40 claims · $883K
Elizabeth City isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Pasquotank County.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Elizabeth City
Disasters that paid out in Elizabeth City itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Elizabeth City), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2016Hurricane Matthew470 households applied for aid$332K aid approved52 flood claims paid for it, $2.2M
- 2011Hurricane Irene249 households applied for aid$105K aid approved
- 2003Hurricane Isabel3,275 households applied for aid$1.6M aid approved40 flood claims paid for it, $883K
Pasquotank 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.
Old photos of Elizabeth City after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Elizabeth City archive →Get ready for what Elizabeth City 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 Elizabeth City
Is Elizabeth City at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Elizabeth City has higher expected damage per building than 73% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #213 of 290 in North Carolina. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (57%) and river and rain flooding (35%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Elizabeth City flood?
Flood insurance has paid 236 claims in Elizabeth City since 1979, $5.3M in all, or 27.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 87% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 32 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Floyd (52).
Is Elizabeth City 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 Pasquotank County, 54% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 11.0% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Elizabeth City?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Elizabeth City’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 Elizabeth City?
By FEMA money that reached Elizabeth City, Hurricane Isabel (2003): 3,275 households applied for aid, $1.6M approved. By flood claims, Hurricane Floyd: 52 paid, $1.1M.
Is Elizabeth City at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (57%), and Elizabeth City’s rate for it is in the top 7% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Elizabeth City.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Elizabeth City’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.