Mary's Grove · Photo: Bigdaverhuberg · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Lenoir 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, Lenoir gets a B− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 51% of U.S. towns, #143 of 290 in North Carolina. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%). Flood insurance has paid 29 claims here since 1979.
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 stands out about Lenoir’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Lenoir 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
Earthquakes
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 Lenoir’s grade
River and rain flooding is 82% of the building damage FEMA expects in Lenoir, and Lenoir’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 66% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 3%, at a rate in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
B− #143 of 290 in North Carolina; lower expected damage per building than 51% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Lenoir’s residents live in 9 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, Lenoir has less expected damage per building than 51% of North Carolina towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $6.7M a year in losses across Lenoir: $5.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Lenoir flood? Sometimes: 29 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Lenoir, from FEMA’s records: 3.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 50% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Ernesto1 claim · $24K
- Hurricane Helene1 claim · $2K
- Hurricane Floyd1 claim · $26K
Lenoir isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Caldwell County.5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Lenoir
Disasters that paid out in Lenoir itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Lenoir), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Tropical Storm Helene4,862 households applied for aid$6.2M aid approved$210K to the City of Lenoir for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $2K
- 2009Severe Winter Storms and Flooding$20K to the City of Lenoir for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2004Hurricane Ivan18 households applied for aid$27K aid approved$4K to the City of Lenoir for repairs
- 2004Tropical Storm Frances31 households applied for aid$47K aid approved$26K to the City of Lenoir for repairs
- 2002Severe Ice Storm$15K to the City of Lenoir for repairs
Caldwell County has had 19 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 Lenoir after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Lenoir archive →Lenoir and its neighbors
Lenoir is 4th of the 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cajah's Mountain | B+less damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Sawmills | B+less damage than 67% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Hudson | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Lenoir | B−less damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 29 |
| Gamewell | Cmore damage than 67% | river and rain flooding | — |
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 Lenoir 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.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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 Lenoir
Is Lenoir at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Lenoir has lower expected damage per building than 51% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #143 of 290 in North Carolina. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%) and earthquakes (6%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Lenoir flood?
Flood insurance has paid 29 claims in Lenoir since 1979, $331K in all, or 3.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 50% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 4 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Ernesto (1).
Is Lenoir 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 Caldwell County, 19% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Lenoir?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Lenoir’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 Lenoir?
By FEMA money that reached Lenoir, Tropical Storm Helene (2024): 4,862 households applied for aid, $6.2M approved, and $210K to the City of Lenoir for repairs. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Ernesto: 1 paid, $24K.
Is Lenoir at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (82%), and Lenoir’s rate for it is higher than 66% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Lenoir.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Lenoir’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.