Storms, floods and disasters in Indian Beach
Indian Beach isn’t graded for hazard risk: Indian Beach has 211 residents; we grade towns of 1,000 or more. Flood insurance has paid 21 claims here since 1999.
What Indian Beach faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
Hurricanes
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.
Does Indian Beach flood? Sometimes: 21 flood claims since 1999
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Indian Beach, from FEMA’s records.
- Hurricane Ophelia9 claims · $116K
- Hurricane Florence7 claims · $79K
- Hurricane Irene4 claims · $28K
Indian Beach isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Carteret County.7 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Indian Beach
Disasters that paid out in Indian Beach itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Indian Beach), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2019Hurricane Dorian$10K to the Town of Indian Beach for repairs
- 2018Hurricane Florence14 households applied for aid$3K aid approved$6.3M to the Town of Indian Beach for repairs7 flood claims paid for it, $79K
- 2011Hurricane Irene$4K to the Town of Indian Beach for repairs4 flood claims paid for it, $28K
- 2010Hurricane Earl$2K to the Town of Indian Beach for repairs
- 2005Hurricane Ophelia$3.0M to the Town of Indian Beach for repairs9 flood claims paid for it, $116K
- 2005Hurricane Ophelia$1K to the Town of Indian Beach for repairs9 flood claims paid for it, $116K
Show all 7
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$48K to the Town of Indian Beach for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $955
Carteret County has had 20 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 Indian Beach after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Indian Beach archive →Get ready for what Indian Beach faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- 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.
- 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 Indian Beach
Does Indian Beach flood?
Flood insurance has paid 21 claims in Indian Beach since 1999, $223K in all. The most claims came from Hurricane Ophelia (9).
Is Indian Beach 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 Carteret County, 52% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 21.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Indian Beach?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Indian Beach’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 Indian Beach?
By FEMA money that reached Indian Beach, Hurricane Florence (2018): 14 households applied for aid, $3K approved, and $6.3M to the Town of Indian Beach for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Ophelia: 9 paid, $116K.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Indian Beach.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Indian Beach’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.