Photo: Aaron Hines/City of Greenville · Public domainFEMA puts Greenville’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 79% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Greenville gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 79% of U.S. towns, #223 of 290 in North Carolina. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (50%), then hurricanes (40%). Flood insurance has paid 503 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 Greenville’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Greenville 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.
What’s behind Greenville’s grade
River and rain flooding is 50% of the building damage FEMA expects in Greenville, and Greenville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 65% of U.S. census tracts. Hurricanes add 40%, at a rate in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts.
C− #223 of 290 in North Carolina; higher expected damage per building than 79% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Greenville’s residents live in 32 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, Greenville has more expected damage per building than 77% of North Carolina towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $42.8M a year in losses across Greenville: $34.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Greenville flood? Yes: 503 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Greenville, from FEMA’s records: 11.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 75% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Floyd335 claims · $17.6M
- Hurricane Matthew114 claims · $3.3M
- Hurricane Irene14 claims · $185K
Greenville is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 5) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Pitt County.10 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Greenville
Disasters that paid out in Greenville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Greenville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Tropical Storm Helene47 households applied for aid$750 aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
- 2020Hurricane Isaias$138K to the City of Greenville for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2019Hurricane Dorian$115K to the City of Greenville for repairs
- 2018Hurricane Florence295 households applied for aid$76K aid approved$387K to the City of Greenville for repairs
- 2016Hurricane Matthew2,227 households applied for aid$1.6M aid approved$551K to the City of Greenville for repairs114 flood claims paid for it, $3.3M
- 2011Hurricane Irene1,367 households applied for aid$897K aid approved$1.3M to the City of Greenville for repairs14 flood claims paid for it, $185K
Show all 10
- 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding25 households applied for aid$15K aid approved
- 2010Severe Storms, Flooding, and Straight-line Winds43 households applied for aid$40K aid approved2 flood claims paid that year
- 2003Hurricane Isabel308 households applied for aid$308K aid approved$198K to the City of Greenville for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$5.8M to the City of Greenville for repairs335 flood claims paid for it, $17.6M
Pitt County has had 22 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 Greenville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Greenville archive →Greenville and its neighbors
Greenville 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winterville | C−more damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | 38 |
| Greenville | C−more damage than 79% | river and rain flooding | 503 |
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 Greenville 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.
- Greenville residents get 25% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Greenville
Is Greenville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Greenville has higher expected damage per building than 79% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #223 of 290 in North Carolina. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (50%) and hurricanes (40%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Greenville flood?
Flood insurance has paid 503 claims in Greenville since 1979, $21.6M in all, or 11.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 75% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 21 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Floyd (335).
Is Greenville 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 Pitt County, 34% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 2.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Greenville?
Greenville is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 5), which takes 25% 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 Greenville?
By FEMA money that reached Greenville, Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations (1999): $5.8M to the City of Greenville for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Floyd: 335 paid, $17.6M.
Is Greenville at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (50%), and Greenville’s rate for it is higher than 65% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Greenville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Greenville’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.