Samuel Bartley Holleman House · Photo: KimWrenn · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Holly Springs as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Holly Springs gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns, #101 of 290 in North Carolina. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%). Flood insurance has paid 12 claims here since 1996.
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 Holly Springs 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
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 Holly Springs’ grade
River and rain flooding is 85% of the building damage FEMA expects in Holly Springs, and Holly Springs’ rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 62% of U.S. census tracts.
B #101 of 290 in North Carolina; lower expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Holly Springs’ residents live in 10 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, Holly Springs has less expected damage per building than 65% of North Carolina towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $10.9M a year in losses across Holly Springs: $9.6M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Holly Springs flood? Sometimes: 12 flood claims since 1996
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Holly Springs, from FEMA’s records: 0.8 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 83% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Matthew8 claims · $155K
- Hurricane Fran2 claims · $18K
- Hurricane Helene1 claim · $68K
Holly Springs isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Wake County.6 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Holly Springs
Disasters that paid out in Holly Springs itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Holly Springs), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2016Hurricane Matthew15 households applied for aid$6K aid approved$964K to the Town of Holly Springs for repairs8 flood claims paid for it, $155K
- 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding115 households applied for aid$15K aid approved$315K to the Town of Holly Springs for repairs
- 2003Hurricane Isabel7 households applied for aid$719 aid approved$26K to the Town of Holly Springs for repairs
- 2002Severe Ice Storm$100K to the Town of Holly Springs for repairs
- 2000Severe Winter Storm$13K to the Town of Holly Springs for repairs
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$25K to the Town of Holly Springs for repairs
Wake 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 Holly Springs after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Holly Springs archive →Holly Springs and its neighbors
Holly Springs is 2nd of the 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apex | B+less damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Holly Springs | Bless damage than 59% | river and rain flooding | 12 |
| Fuquay-Varina | Bless damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | 8 |
| Cary | B−less damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 160 |
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 Holly Springs 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.
- 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 Holly Springs
Is Holly Springs at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Holly Springs has lower expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #101 of 290 in North Carolina. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Holly Springs flood?
Flood insurance has paid 12 claims in Holly Springs since 1996, $256K in all, or 0.8 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 83% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Hurricane Matthew (8).
Is Holly Springs 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 Wake County, 46% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.8% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Holly Springs?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Holly Springs’ 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 Holly Springs?
By FEMA money that reached Holly Springs, Hurricane Matthew (2016): 15 households applied for aid, $6K approved, and $964K to the Town of Holly Springs for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Matthew: 8 paid, $155K.
Is Holly Springs at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (85%), and Holly Springs’ rate for it is higher than 62% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Holly Springs.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Holly Springs’ 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.