Guest, Sign inJoin

Post to Goldsboro

We’ll email a one-tap link to publish your post. No password, and nothing is public until you click it.
Already a member? Sign in
Borden Manufacturing CompanyBorden Manufacturing Company · Photo: Nyttend · Public domain
C+Hazard risk
Natural hazards in Goldsboro · FEMA

On FEMA’s figures, Goldsboro faces more hazard damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns, led by river and rain flooding

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Goldsboro gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns, #190 of 290 in North Carolina. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (49%), then hurricanes (41%). Flood insurance has paid 621 claims here since 1979.

River and rain flooding 49%Hurricanes 41%Tornadoes 4%

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

more than 62%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade#190 of 290 in North Carolina
Hazard risk
C+#190 of 290
in North Carolina · higher than 62% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
River and rain flooding
49% of expected building damage
Flood claims
621
paid since 1979 · $28.3M
Flooded more than once
56
properties · 3 “severe repetitive loss”
Flood insurance
15% off
Community discount (class 7)

What stands out about Goldsboro’s natural hazards

From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.

621 paid flood claims since 1979$28.3M in all; 56 properties flooded more than once. More per home than 90% of U.S. towns.15% off flood insuranceFlood-proofing work earns Goldsboro residents a discount through FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7).Moved out of harm’s way439 flood-prone properties bought out and cleared; 4 homes raised above flood level; 2 flood-prone homes bought out and moved with FEMA grants.Remembers 2016278 flood claims were paid for 2016 alone, the most of any year.
By hazard

What Goldsboro 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

49%of expected building damage
About average · lower than 56% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about once a year in the area

Hurricanes

41%of expected building damage
Well above average · higher than 90% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about once every 4 years in the area
Smaller shares here
 Tornadoes Earthquakes Hail Strong wind Ice storms Winter storms Lightning Wildfire Cold waves Heat waves Landslides
FEMA models no building damage here
Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity

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.

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.
Hazard risk grade

What’s behind Goldsboro’s grade

River and rain flooding is 49% of the building damage FEMA expects in Goldsboro, and Goldsboro’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 56% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 41% (higher than 90% of U.S. census tracts).

Where Goldsboro sits
Goldsboro
Least damageMiddleMost damage

C+ #190 of 290 in North Carolina; higher expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns (21,298).

Goldsboro’s residents live in 17 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.

What drives the damage to buildings
River and rain flooding49%Hurricanes41%Tornadoes4%Everything else5%

The typical North Carolina town has lower expected damage than 51% of U.S. towns; within the state, Goldsboro has more expected damage per building than 65% of North Carolina towns.

In dollars, FEMA expects about $17.5M a year in losses across Goldsboro: $13.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

Recent disaster.FEMA’s model looks at expected damage to the buildings standing today. After Hurricane Florence in 2018, FEMA took 1,850 aid registrations from Goldsboro addresses (the town has 17,294 homes) and flood insurance paid 80 claims for $2.2M.
A firm figure. It combines 17 census tracts by where Goldsboro’s residents live. FEMA’s model is an average year for today’s buildings, not a record: the claims and disasters below are the record.

How TownRatings grades hazard risk →

Flood insurance claims

Does Goldsboro flood? Yes: 621 flood claims since 1979

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Goldsboro, from FEMA’s records: 35.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 90% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
1979: 2 claims1980: 0 claims1981: 1 claim1982: 7 claims1983: 0 claims1984: 0 claims1985: 0 claims1986: 0 claims1987: 1 claim1988: 0 claims1989: 0 claims1990: 0 claims1991: 1 claim1992: 11 claims1993: 0 claims1994: 0 claims1995: 0 claims1996: 23 claims1997: 0 claims1998: 6 claims1999: 190 claims2000: 1 claim2001: 0 claims2002: 0 claims2003: 1 claim2004: 0 claims2005: 2 claims2006: 4 claims2007: 0 claims2008: 0 claims2009: 0 claims2010: 0 claims2011: 0 claims2012: 0 claims2013: 0 claims2014: 0 claims2015: 0 claims2016: 278 claims2017: 2 claims2018: 81 claims2019: 0 claims2020: 5 claims2021: 1 claim2022: 1 claim2023: 2 claims2024: 0 claims2025: 0 claims2026: 1 claim199920162018
19792026
Biggest named events
  • Hurricane Matthew276 claims · $19.2M
  • Hurricane Floyd183 claims · $5.5M
  • Hurricane Florence80 claims · $2.2M
621
paid claims since 1979
$28.3M
paid to owners
56
homes flooded more than once
$46K
average claim
Homes that flooded again and again
FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (3)Flooded 2+ times
of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
Community discount15% off flood insurance

Goldsboro is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7) for its flood-proofing work.

Insurance rates: Wayne County.
What’s been done with FEMA grants
439flood-prone properties bought out and cleared
4homes raised above flood level
2flood-prone homes bought out and moved
Disasters

6 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Goldsboro

Disasters that paid out in Goldsboro itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Goldsboro), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.

  1. 2024Tropical Storm Helene85 households applied for aid$1K aid approved
  2. 2018Hurricane Florence1,850 households applied for aid$705K aid approved$2.2M to the City of Goldsboro for repairs80 flood claims paid for it, $2.2M
  3. 2016Hurricane Matthew4,524 households applied for aid$7.5M aid approved$3.0M to the City of Goldsboro for repairs276 flood claims paid for it, $19.2M
  4. 2011Hurricane Irene216 households applied for aid$90K aid approved$550K to the City of Goldsboro for repairs
  5. 2003Hurricane Isabel102 households applied for aid$46K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
  6. 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$2.7M to the City of Goldsboro for repairs183 flood claims paid for it, $5.5M
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in GoldsboroWayne County only

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.

Were you here?

Old photos of Goldsboro after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.

Add to the Goldsboro archive →
Next door

Goldsboro and its neighbors

Goldsboro has the lowest expected damage per building of the 3 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.

Elroy: hazard risk CNew Hope: hazard risk CElroyNew HopeGoldsboro
Lowest fifthSecondMiddleFourthHighest fifth
TownHazard riskMostly (buildings)Flood claims
GoldsboroC+more damage than 62%river and rain flooding621
New HopeCmore damage than 71%river and rain flooding—
ElroyCmore damage than 72%river and rain flooding24

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.

Be ready

Get ready for what Goldsboro faces

A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.

When the river rises
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Hurricane season
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Before you buy or rent
  • 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.
  • Goldsboro residents get 15% off flood insurance.
When a storm is coming
Forecast and alertsWeather →911, the nearest ERSafety →

Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.

Questions about natural hazards in Goldsboro

Is Goldsboro at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Goldsboro has higher expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #190 of 290 in North Carolina. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (49%) and hurricanes (41%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Does Goldsboro flood?

Flood insurance has paid 621 claims in Goldsboro since 1979, $28.3M in all, or 35.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 90% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 56 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Matthew (276).

Is Goldsboro 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 Goldsboro?

Goldsboro 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 Goldsboro?

By FEMA money that reached Goldsboro, Hurricane Matthew (2016): 4,524 households applied for aid, $7.5M approved, and $3.0M to the City of Goldsboro for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Matthew: 276 paid, $19.2M.

Is Goldsboro at risk from river and rain flooding?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (49%), and Goldsboro’s rate for it is lower than 56% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Goldsboro.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Goldsboro’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.