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Pelletier House and Wantland SpringPelletier House and Wantland Spring · Photo: Hammerattack at en.wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0
D−Hazard risk
Natural hazards in Jacksonville · FEMA

On FEMA’s figures, few U.S. towns expect more hazard damage per building than Jacksonville, mostly from hurricanes

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Jacksonville gets a D− for hazard risk: among the highest expected damage per building of U.S. towns, #277 of 290 in North Carolina. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (88%). Flood insurance has paid 222 claims here since 1992.

Hurricanes 88%River and rain flooding 10%

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

among the highestof U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade#277 of 290 in North Carolina
Hazard risk
D−#277 of 290
in North Carolina · among the highest of U.S. towns
Main hazard
Hurricanes
88% of expected building damage
Flood claims
222
paid since 1992 · $6.9M
Flooded more than once
28
properties · 4 “severe repetitive loss”
Flood insurance
10% off
Community discount (class 8)

What stands out about Jacksonville’s natural hazards

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

222 paid flood claims since 1992$6.9M in all; 28 properties flooded more than once.10% off flood insuranceFlood-proofing work earns Jacksonville residents a discount through FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8).Hurricanes: the top 1% of U.S. tractsFEMA’s building-damage rate for hurricanes here ranks in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts; it is 88.2% of the damage it expects.Moved out of harm’s way27 flood-prone properties bought out and cleared with FEMA grants.
By hazard

What Jacksonville faces

Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.

Hurricanes

88%of expected building damage
Well above average · in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about once every 3 years in the area

River and rain flooding

10%of expected building damage
Below average · lower than 74% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 2 times a year in the area
Smaller shares here
 Tornadoes Earthquakes Strong wind Ice storms Wildfire Winter storms Lightning top 3% Coastal flooding Hail Cold waves Heat waves Landslides
FEMA models no building damage here
AvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic 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 Jacksonville’s grade

Hurricanes are 88% of the building damage FEMA expects in Jacksonville, and Jacksonville’s rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts. Next is river and rain flooding at 10% (lower than 74% of U.S. census tracts).

Where Jacksonville sits
Jacksonville
Least damageMiddleMost damage

D− #277 of 290 in North Carolina; among the highest expected damage per building of U.S. towns (21,298).

Jacksonville’s residents live in 21 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.

What drives the damage to buildings
Hurricanes88%River and rain flooding10%Everything else2%

The typical North Carolina town has lower expected damage than 51% of U.S. towns; within the state, Jacksonville has more expected damage per building than 96% of North Carolina towns.

In dollars, FEMA expects about $79.6M a year in losses across Jacksonville: $70.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

Recent disaster.FEMA’s model looks at expected damage to the buildings standing today. After Hurricane Florence in 2018, FEMA took 11,014 aid registrations from Jacksonville addresses (the town has 25,417 homes) and flood insurance paid 95 claims for $4.4M.
A firm figure. It combines 21 census tracts by where Jacksonville’s 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 Jacksonville flood? Yes: 222 flood claims since 1992

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Jacksonville, from FEMA’s records: 8.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 71% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
1992: 1 claim1993: 0 claims1994: 1 claim1995: 1 claim1996: 26 claims1997: 0 claims1998: 10 claims1999: 26 claims2000: 3 claims2001: 1 claim2002: 1 claim2003: 0 claims2004: 0 claims2005: 6 claims2006: 8 claims2007: 1 claim2008: 1 claim2009: 2 claims2010: 15 claims2011: 3 claims2012: 0 claims2013: 0 claims2014: 0 claims2015: 2 claims2016: 5 claims2017: 0 claims2018: 98 claims2019: 0 claims2020: 2 claims2021: 0 claims2022: 0 claims2023: 9 claims2024: 0 claims2025: 0 claims2026: 0 claims199619992018
19922026
Biggest named events
  • Hurricane Florence95 claims · $4.4M
  • Hurricane Floyd25 claims · $288K
  • Hurricane Fran20 claims · $331K
222
paid claims since 1992
$6.9M
paid to owners
28
homes flooded more than once
$31K
average claim
Homes that flooded again and again
FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (4)Flooded 2+ times
of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
Community discount10% off flood insurance

Jacksonville is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8) for its flood-proofing work.

Insurance rates: Onslow County.
What’s been done with FEMA grants
27flood-prone properties bought out and cleared
Disasters

13 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Jacksonville

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

  1. 2020Hurricane Isaias$564K to the City of Jacksonville for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
  2. 2019Hurricane Dorian$71K to the City of Jacksonville for repairs
  3. 2018Hurricane Florence11,014 households applied for aid$6.7M aid approved$7.0M to the City of Jacksonville for repairs95 flood claims paid for it, $4.4M
  4. 2016Hurricane Matthew222 households applied for aid$78K aid approved5 flood claims paid that year
  5. 2011Hurricane Irene771 households applied for aid$380K aid approved$732K to the City of Jacksonville for repairs
  6. 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding261 households applied for aid$447K aid approved$29K to the City of Jacksonville for repairs
Show all 13
  1. 2010Severe Storms, Flooding, and Straight-line Winds193 households applied for aid$205K aid approved
  2. 2010Hurricane Earl$8K to the City of Jacksonville for repairs
  3. 2005Hurricane Ophelia$43K to the City of Jacksonville for repairs
  4. 2005Hurricane Ophelia$15K to the City of Jacksonville for repairs
  5. 2003Hurricane Isabel153 households applied for aid$81K aid approved$208K to the City of Jacksonville for repairs
  6. 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$519K to the City of Jacksonville for repairs25 flood claims paid for it, $288K
  7. 1999Hurricane Dennis$23K to the City of Jacksonville for repairs
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in JacksonvilleOnslow County only

Onslow County has had 21 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.

Were you here?

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

Add to the Jacksonville archive →
Next door

Jacksonville and its neighbors

Jacksonville has the lowest expected damage per building of the 4 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.

Piney Green: hazard risk D−Half Moon: hazard risk D−Pumpkin Center: hazard risk D−Piney GreenHalf MoonPumpkin CenterJacksonville
Lowest fifthSecondMiddleFourthHighest fifth
TownHazard riskMostly (buildings)Flood claims
JacksonvilleD−among the highest damagehurricanes222
Pumpkin CenterD−among the highest damagehurricanes—
Piney GreenD−among the highest damagehurricanes34
Half MoonD−among the highest damagehurricanes6

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 Jacksonville faces

A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.

Hurricane season
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
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 ↗
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.
  • Jacksonville residents get 10% off flood insurance.
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 Jacksonville

Is Jacksonville at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Jacksonville has among the highest expected damage per building of U.S. towns: D− for hazard risk, #277 of 290 in North Carolina. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (88%) and river and rain flooding (10%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Does Jacksonville flood?

Flood insurance has paid 222 claims in Jacksonville since 1992, $6.9M in all, or 8.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 71% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 28 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Florence (95).

Is Jacksonville 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 Onslow County, 73% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 6.3% of all homes do.

How much is flood insurance in Jacksonville?

Jacksonville is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8), which takes 10% 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 Jacksonville?

By FEMA money that reached Jacksonville, Hurricane Florence (2018): 11,014 households applied for aid, $6.7M approved, and $7.0M to the City of Jacksonville for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Florence: 95 paid, $4.4M.

Is Jacksonville at risk from hurricanes?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (88%), and Jacksonville’s rate for it is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Jacksonville.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

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