Big Rockfish Presbyterian Church · Photo: Gerry Dincher · CC BY-SA 2.0On FEMA’s figures, Hope Mills faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Hope Mills gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns, #168 of 290 in North Carolina. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (63%), then hurricanes (25%). Flood insurance has paid 6 claims here since 1999.
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 Hope Mills 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 Hope Mills’ grade
River and rain flooding is 63% of the building damage FEMA expects in Hope Mills, and Hope Mills’ rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 53% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 25% (higher than 87% of U.S. census tracts).
C+ #168 of 290 in North Carolina; higher expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Hope Mills’ residents live in 12 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, Hope Mills has more expected damage per building than 58% of North Carolina towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.4M a year in losses across Hope Mills: $3.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Hope Mills flood? Rarely: 6 flood claims since 1999
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Hope Mills, from FEMA’s records: 0.9 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 81% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Matthew2 claims · $230K
- Hurricane Florence2 claims · $160K
- Hurricane Floyd1 claim · $3K
Hope Mills isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Cumberland County.6 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Hope Mills
Disasters that paid out in Hope Mills itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Hope Mills), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2018Hurricane Florence1,115 households applied for aid$407K aid approved$291K to the Town of Hope Mills for repairs2 flood claims paid for it, $160K
- 2016Hurricane Matthew1,844 households applied for aid$2.6M aid approved$514K to the Town of Hope Mills for repairs2 flood claims paid for it, $230K
- 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding24 households applied for aid$4K aid approved
- 2004Tropical Storm Frances49 households applied for aid$60K aid approved
- 2003Hurricane Isabel70 households applied for aid$20K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$30K to the Town of Hope Mills for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $3K
Cumberland County has had 17 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.
Also 1 FEMA wildfire suppression grant (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Cumberland County, 2011–2011.
Old photos of Hope Mills after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Hope Mills archive →Hope Mills and its neighbors
Hope Mills 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville | B−less damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 400 |
| Hope Mills | C+more damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
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 Hope Mills 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.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Hope Mills
Is Hope Mills at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Hope Mills has higher expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #168 of 290 in North Carolina. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (63%) and hurricanes (25%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Hope Mills flood?
Flood insurance has paid 6 claims in Hope Mills since 1999, $402K in all, or 0.9 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 81% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Matthew (2).
Is Hope Mills 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 Cumberland County, 33% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Hope Mills?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Hope Mills’ 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 Hope Mills?
By FEMA money that reached Hope Mills, Hurricane Matthew (2016): 1,844 households applied for aid, $2.6M approved, and $514K to the Town of Hope Mills for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Matthew: 2 paid, $230K.
Is Hope Mills at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (63%), and Hope Mills’ rate for it is higher than 53% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Hope Mills.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Hope Mills’ 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.