Mason-Hardee-Capel House · Photo: Frank Womble · CC BY-SA 4.0Storms, floods and disasters in Garysburg
Garysburg isn’t graded for hazard risk: Garysburg has 572 residents; we grade towns of 1,000 or more. Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 2013.
What Garysburg 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.
Does Garysburg flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 2013
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Garysburg, from FEMA’s records.
Garysburg isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Northampton County.5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Garysburg
Disasters that paid out in Garysburg itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Garysburg), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2016Hurricane Matthew58 households applied for aid$30K aid approved$8K to the Town of Garysburg for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene277 households applied for aid$198K aid approved$8K to the Town of Garysburg for repairs
- 2003Hurricane Isabel442 households applied for aid$262K aid approved$3K to the Town of Garysburg for repairs
- 2002Severe Ice Storm$3K to the Town of Garysburg for repairs
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$19K to the Town of Garysburg for repairs
Northampton County has had 20 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 Garysburg after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Garysburg archive →Get ready for what Garysburg 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.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Garysburg
Does Garysburg flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Garysburg since 2013, $13K in all.
Is Garysburg 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 Northampton County, 8% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Garysburg?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Garysburg’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 Garysburg?
By FEMA money that reached Garysburg, Hurricane Isabel (2003): 442 households applied for aid, $262K approved, and $3K to the Town of Garysburg for repairs.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Garysburg.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Garysburg’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.