More hazard damage per building is expected in Elroy than in 72% of U.S. towns, led by river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Elroy gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 72% of U.S. towns, #211 of 290 in North Carolina. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (47%), then hurricanes (45%). Flood insurance has paid 24 claims here since 1996.
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 Elroy 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
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 Elroy’s grade
River and rain flooding is 47% of the building damage FEMA expects in Elroy, and Elroy’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 51% of U.S. census tracts. Hurricanes add 45%, at a rate in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts.
C #211 of 290 in North Carolina; higher expected damage per building than 72% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Elroy’s residents live in 2 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, Elroy has more expected damage per building than 73% of North Carolina towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.9M a year in losses across Elroy: $1.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Elroy flood? Sometimes: 24 flood claims since 1996
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Elroy, from FEMA’s records: 16.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 82% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Matthew13 claims · $518K
- Hurricane Floyd5 claims · $185K
- Hurricane Florence3 claims · $47K
Elroy isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Wayne County.The storms Elroy remembers
None of the 21 disasters declared for Wayne County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Elroy itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 201613 flood claims paidThe year of Hurricane Matthew, declared for Wayne County
- 19995 flood claims paidThe year of Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations, declared for Wayne County
- 20183 flood claims paidThe year of Hurricane Florence, declared for Wayne County
Wayne County has had 21 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often hurricanes and tropical storms, then severe storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Elroy after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Elroy archive →Elroy and its neighbors
Elroy is 2nd of the 2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goldsboro | C+more damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 621 |
| Elroy | Cmore damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 24 |
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 Elroy 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.
- 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 Elroy
Is Elroy at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Elroy has higher expected damage per building than 72% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #211 of 290 in North Carolina. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (47%) and hurricanes (45%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Elroy flood?
Flood insurance has paid 24 claims in Elroy since 1996, $766K in all, or 16.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 82% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Hurricane Matthew (13).
Is Elroy 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 Wayne County, 16% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Elroy?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Elroy’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 Elroy?
By flood claims, Hurricane Matthew: 13 paid, $518K.
Is Elroy at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (47%), and Elroy’s rate for it is lower than 51% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Elroy.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Elroy’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.