Photo: Beyonce245 of English Wikipedia. · Public domainFEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Greensboro as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Greensboro gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns, #106 of 290 in North Carolina. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%). Flood insurance has paid 363 claims here since 1978.
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 Greensboro’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Greensboro 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 Greensboro’s grade
River and rain flooding is 84% of the building damage FEMA expects in Greensboro, and Greensboro’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 63% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 6% (higher than 71% of U.S. census tracts).
B #106 of 290 in North Carolina; lower expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Greensboro’s residents live in 87 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, Greensboro has less expected damage per building than 64% of North Carolina towns.
Among the 400 U.S. cities of 100,000 or more, Greensboro has lower expected damage per building than 70% (#121 of 400). Because it is so big, its total expected yearly loss, $71.5M, is the 167th largest of those 400.
Does Greensboro flood? Yes: 363 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Greensboro, from FEMA’s records: 2.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 55% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Fran23 claims · $405K
- Hurricane Florence22 claims · $1.2M
- Hurricane Isabel13 claims · $251K
Greensboro is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Guilford County.9 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Greensboro
Disasters that paid out in Greensboro itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Greensboro), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Tropical Storm Helene82 households applied for aid$7K aid approved15 flood claims paid that year
- 2018Hurricane Florence271 households applied for aid$127K aid approved22 flood claims paid for it, $1.2M
- 2018Tornado and Severe Storms1,384 households applied for aid$634K aid approved
- 2014Severe Winter Storm$1.9M to the City of Greensboro for repairs
- 2004Hurricane Ivan14 households applied for aid$8K aid approved17 flood claims paid that year
- 2003Ice Storm$1.6M to the City of Greensboro for repairs29 flood claims paid that year
Show all 9
- 2002Severe Ice Storm$1.1M to the City of Greensboro for repairs
- 2000Severe Winter Storm$211K to the City of Greensboro for repairs38 flood claims paid that year
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$3K to the City of Greensboro for repairs
Guilford County has had 24 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 Greensboro after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Greensboro archive →Greensboro and its neighbors
Greensboro is 2nd of the 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oak Ridge | Bless damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Greensboro | Bless damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 363 |
| Kernersville | Bless damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| High Point | Bless damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 72 |
| Summerfield | B−less damage than 50% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Forest Oaks | C+more damage than 59% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Jamestown | C−more damage than 77% | river and rain flooding | — |
| McLeansville | — | 688 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
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 Greensboro 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.
- Greensboro 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 Greensboro
Is Greensboro at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Greensboro has lower expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #106 of 290 in North Carolina. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%) and hurricanes (6%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Greensboro flood?
Flood insurance has paid 363 claims in Greensboro since 1978, $7.7M in all, or 2.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 55% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 43 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Fran (23).
Is Greensboro 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 Guilford County, 40% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Greensboro?
Greensboro 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 Greensboro?
By FEMA money that reached Greensboro, Severe Winter Storm (2014): $1.9M to the City of Greensboro for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Fran: 23 paid, $405K.
Is Greensboro at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (84%), and Greensboro’s rate for it is higher than 63% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Greensboro.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Greensboro’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.