Photo: Edward Orde · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA puts Murraysville’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 98% of U.S. towns, mostly from hurricanes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Murraysville gets a D− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 98% of U.S. towns, #265 of 290 in North Carolina. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (69%), then river and rain flooding (28%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 2024.
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 Murraysville 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.
What’s behind Murraysville’s grade
Hurricanes are 69% of the building damage FEMA expects in Murraysville, and Murraysville’s rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts. Next is river and rain flooding at 28% (higher than 78% of U.S. census tracts).
D− #265 of 290 in North Carolina; higher expected damage per building than 98% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Murraysville’s residents live in 4 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, Murraysville has more expected damage per building than 91% of North Carolina towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $13.1M a year in losses across Murraysville: $11.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Murraysville flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 2024
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Murraysville, from FEMA’s records: 0.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 99% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Murraysville isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: New Hanover County.The storms Murraysville remembers
None of the 23 disasters declared for New Hanover County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Murraysville itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20241 flood claims paidThe year of Hurricane Helene, declared for New Hanover County
New Hanover County has had 23 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 Murraysville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Murraysville archive →Murraysville and its neighbors
Murraysville is 5th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northchase | D−more damage than 96% | hurricanes | — |
| Wilmington | D−more damage than 96% | hurricanes | 469 |
| Kings Grant | D−more damage than 97% | hurricanes | 34 |
| Bayshore | D−more damage than 97% | hurricanes | 19 |
| Murraysville | D−more damage than 98% | hurricanes | 1 |
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 Murraysville 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 Murraysville
Is Murraysville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Murraysville has higher expected damage per building than 98% of U.S. towns: D− for hazard risk, #265 of 290 in North Carolina. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (69%) and river and rain flooding (28%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Murraysville flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Murraysville since 2024, $3K in all, or 0.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 99% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Murraysville 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 New Hanover County, 75% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 14.7% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Murraysville?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Murraysville’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Murraysville at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (69%), and Murraysville’s rate for it is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Murraysville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Murraysville’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.