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Harrisburg ncPhoto: Harrisburg_11 · CC BY 2.0
C−Hazard risk
Natural hazards in Harrisburg · FEMA

On FEMA’s figures, Harrisburg faces more hazard damage per building than 77% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Harrisburg gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 77% of U.S. towns, #220 of 290 in North Carolina. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%). Flood insurance has paid 63 claims here since 1982.

River and rain flooding 88%Tornadoes 6%Ice storms 3%

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 77%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade#220 of 290 in North Carolina
Hazard risk
C−#220 of 290
in North Carolina · higher than 77% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
River and rain flooding
88% of expected building damage
Flood claims
63
paid since 1982 · $1.3M
Flooded more than once
7
properties · 3 “severe repetitive loss”
Disasters paid out here
3
of 14 declared for Cabarrus County

What stands out about Harrisburg’s natural hazards

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

Moved out of harm’s way1 flood-prone property bought out and cleared with FEMA grants.Remembers 202019 flood claims were paid for 2020 alone, the most of any year.
By hazard

What Harrisburg 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

88%of expected building damage
Well above average · higher than 87% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Tornadoes

6%of expected building damage
Above average · higher than 71% of U.S. census tracts
Smaller shares here
 Ice storms Earthquakes Hurricanes Hail Strong wind Wildfire Lightning Winter storms 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 Harrisburg’s grade

River and rain flooding is 88% of the building damage FEMA expects in Harrisburg, and Harrisburg’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 87% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 3%, at a rate in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts.

Where Harrisburg sits
Harrisburg
Least damageMiddleMost damage

C− #220 of 290 in North Carolina; higher expected damage per building than 77% of U.S. towns (21,298).

Harrisburg’s residents live in 6 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.

What drives the damage to buildings
River and rain flooding88%Tornadoes6%Everything else6%

The typical North Carolina town has lower expected damage than 51% of U.S. towns; within the state, Harrisburg has more expected damage per building than 76% of North Carolina towns.

In dollars, FEMA expects about $9.2M a year in losses across Harrisburg: $8.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

A small-area figure. Harrisburg covers 6 census tracts, combined by where 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 Harrisburg flood? Sometimes: 63 flood claims since 1982

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Harrisburg, from FEMA’s records: 9.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 73% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
1982: 2 claims1983: 0 claims1984: 0 claims1985: 3 claims1986: 0 claims1987: 2 claims1988: 0 claims1989: 0 claims1990: 0 claims1991: 0 claims1992: 0 claims1993: 0 claims1994: 0 claims1995: 1 claim1996: 0 claims1997: 1 claim1998: 0 claims1999: 0 claims2000: 0 claims2001: 0 claims2002: 0 claims2003: 2 claims2004: 5 claims2005: 0 claims2006: 0 claims2007: 1 claim2008: 13 claims2009: 0 claims2010: 1 claim2011: 0 claims2012: 0 claims2013: 4 claims2014: 0 claims2015: 1 claim2016: 0 claims2017: 0 claims2018: 0 claims2019: 0 claims2020: 19 claims2021: 0 claims2022: 0 claims2023: 0 claims2024: 8 claims2025: 0 claims2026: 0 claims200820202024
19822026
Biggest named events
  • Hurricane Eta17 claims · $610K
  • Hurricane Helene3 claims · $48K
  • Hurricane Debby3 claims · $25K
63
paid claims since 1982
$1.3M
paid to owners
7
homes flooded more than once
$21K
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
No community discount

Harrisburg isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Cabarrus County.
What’s been done with FEMA grants
1flood-prone property bought out and cleared
Disasters

3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Harrisburg

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

  1. 2024Tropical Storm Helene194 households applied for aid$50K aid approved3 flood claims paid for it, $48K
  2. 2004Tropical Storm Frances1 households applied for aid$345 aid approved5 flood claims paid that year
  3. 2002Severe Ice Storm$27K to the Town of Harrisburg for repairs
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in HarrisburgCabarrus County only

Cabarrus County has had 14 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.

Were you here?

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

Add to the Harrisburg archive →
Next door

Harrisburg and its neighbors

Harrisburg is 3rd of the 3 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.

Concord: hazard risk C+Charlotte: hazard risk C+ConcordCharlotteHarrisburg
Lowest fifthSecondMiddleFourthHighest fifth
TownHazard riskMostly (buildings)Flood claims
CharlotteC+more damage than 56%river and rain flooding2,023
ConcordC+more damage than 64%river and rain flooding21
HarrisburgC−more damage than 77%river and rain flooding63

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 Harrisburg 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 ↗
Tornado warnings
  • 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.
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.
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 Harrisburg

Is Harrisburg at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Harrisburg has higher expected damage per building than 77% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #220 of 290 in North Carolina. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%) and tornadoes (6%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Does Harrisburg flood?

Flood insurance has paid 63 claims in Harrisburg since 1982, $1.3M in all, or 9.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 73% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 7 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Eta (17).

Is Harrisburg 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 Cabarrus County, 20% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.5% of all homes do.

How much is flood insurance in Harrisburg?

FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Harrisburg’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 Harrisburg?

By FEMA money that reached Harrisburg, Tropical Storm Helene (2024): 194 households applied for aid, $50K approved. By flood claims, Hurricane Eta: 17 paid, $610K.

Is Harrisburg at risk from river and rain flooding?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (88%), and Harrisburg’s rate for it is higher than 87% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Harrisburg.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

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