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New Bern Municipal Building (City Hall)Photo: Tradewinds · CC BY-SA 3.0
D−Hazard risk
Natural hazards in New Bern · FEMA

FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in New Bern than almost anywhere in the U.S., mostly from hurricanes

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, New Bern gets a D− for hazard risk: among the highest expected damage per building of U.S. towns, #270 of 290 in North Carolina. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (86%), then river and rain flooding (10%). Flood insurance has paid 1,621 claims here since 1981.

Hurricanes 86%River and rain flooding 10%Tornadoes 2%

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#270 of 290 in North Carolina
Hazard risk
D−#270 of 290
in North Carolina · among the highest of U.S. towns
Main hazard
Hurricanes
86% of expected building damage
Flood claims
1,621
paid since 1981 · $69.5M
Flooded more than once
270
properties · 29 “severe repetitive loss”
Flood insurance
10% off
Community discount (class 8)

What stands out about New Bern’s natural hazards

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

1,621 paid flood claims since 1981$69.5M in all; 270 properties flooded more than once. More per home than 96% of U.S. towns.10% off flood insuranceFlood-proofing work earns New Bern 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 86.5% of the damage it expects.Made safer with FEMA grants156 homes raised above flood level; 63 flood-prone properties bought out and cleared; 2 buildings retrofitted against wind with FEMA grants.
By hazard

What New Bern faces

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

Hurricanes

86%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 77% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about once a year in the area
Smaller shares here
 Tornadoes Earthquakes Coastal flooding Wildfire Ice storms Hail Strong wind Winter storms Lightning 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 New Bern’s grade

Hurricanes are 86% of the building damage FEMA expects in New Bern, and New Bern’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 77% of U.S. census tracts).

Where New Bern sits
New Bern
Least damageMiddleMost damage

D− #270 of 290 in North Carolina; among the highest expected damage per building of U.S. towns (21,298).

New Bern’s residents live in 11 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.

What drives the damage to buildings
Hurricanes86%River and rain flooding10%Everything else3%

The typical North Carolina town has lower expected damage than 51% of U.S. towns; within the state, New Bern has more expected damage per building than 93% of North Carolina towns.

In dollars, FEMA expects about $40.0M a year in losses across New Bern: $35.4M 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 7,301 aid registrations from New Bern addresses (the town has 16,816 homes) and flood insurance paid 801 claims for $59.8M.
A firm figure. It combines 11 census tracts by where New Bern’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 New Bern flood? Yes: 1,621 flood claims since 1981

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in New Bern, from FEMA’s records: 96.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 96% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
1981: 2 claims1982: 5 claims1983: 4 claims1984: 0 claims1985: 0 claims1986: 0 claims1987: 0 claims1988: 0 claims1989: 0 claims1990: 0 claims1991: 0 claims1992: 0 claims1993: 1 claim1994: 0 claims1995: 0 claims1996: 224 claims1997: 0 claims1998: 2 claims1999: 103 claims2000: 0 claims2001: 0 claims2002: 0 claims2003: 29 claims2004: 2 claims2005: 40 claims2006: 12 claims2007: 0 claims2008: 0 claims2009: 1 claim2010: 102 claims2011: 276 claims2012: 3 claims2013: 0 claims2014: 0 claims2015: 0 claims2016: 9 claims2017: 0 claims2018: 803 claims2019: 1 claim2020: 0 claims2021: 0 claims2022: 0 claims2023: 0 claims2024: 2 claims2025: 0 claims2026: 0 claims199620112018
19812026
Biggest named events
  • Hurricane Florence801 claims · $59.8M
  • Hurricane Irene271 claims · $4.8M
  • Hurricane Fran204 claims · $2.1M
1,621
paid claims since 1981
$69.5M
paid to owners
270
homes flooded more than once
$43K
average claim
Homes that flooded again and again
Each house = 5 homesFEMA “severe repetitive loss” (29)Flooded 2+ times
of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
Community discount10% off flood insurance

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

Insurance rates: Craven County.
What’s been done with FEMA grants
156homes raised above flood level
63flood-prone properties bought out and cleared
2buildings retrofitted against wind
Disasters

13 federal disasters brought FEMA money to New Bern

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

  1. 2020Hurricane Isaias$622K to the City of New Bern for repairs
  2. 2019Hurricane Dorian$1.1M to the City of New Bern for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
  3. 2018Hurricane Florence7,301 households applied for aid$14.7M aid approved$45.6M to the City of New Bern for repairs801 flood claims paid for it, $59.8M
  4. 2016Hurricane Matthew143 households applied for aid$47K aid approved$538K to the City of New Bern for repairs9 flood claims paid that year
  5. 2011Hurricane Irene1,997 households applied for aid$1.8M aid approved$2.8M to the City of New Bern for repairs271 flood claims paid for it, $4.8M
  6. 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding46 households applied for aid$29K aid approved$66K to the City of New Bern for repairs
Show all 13
  1. 2010Severe Storms, Flooding, and Straight-line Winds450 households applied for aid$756K aid approved
  2. 2010Hurricane Earl$12K to the City of New Bern for repairs
  3. 2005Hurricane Ophelia$101K to the City of New Bern for repairs
  4. 2005Hurricane Ophelia$142K to the City of New Bern for repairs
  5. 2003Hurricane Isabel232 households applied for aid$178K aid approved$585K to the City of New Bern for repairs28 flood claims paid for it, $167K
  6. 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$525K to the City of New Bern for repairs57 flood claims paid for it, $305K
  7. 1999Hurricane Dennis$191K to the City of New Bern for repairs39 flood claims paid for it, $206K
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in New BernCraven County only

Craven County has had 22 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.

Were you here?

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

Add to the New Bern archive →
Next door

New Bern and its neighbors

New Bern is 2nd of the 4 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.

Trent Woods: hazard risk D−James City: hazard risk D−Brices Creek: hazard risk D−Trent WoodsJames CityBrices CreekNew Bern
Lowest fifthSecondMiddleFourthHighest fifth
TownHazard riskMostly (buildings)Flood claims
James CityD−among the highest damagehurricanes32
New BernD−among the highest damagehurricanes1,621
Trent WoodsD−among the highest damagehurricanes227
Brices CreekD−among the highest damagehurricanes—

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 New Bern 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.
  • New Bern 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 New Bern

Is New Bern at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, New Bern has among the highest expected damage per building of U.S. towns: D− for hazard risk, #270 of 290 in North Carolina. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (86%) and river and rain flooding (10%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Does New Bern flood?

Flood insurance has paid 1,621 claims in New Bern since 1981, $69.5M in all, or 96.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 96% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 270 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Florence (801).

Is New Bern 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 Craven County, 61% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 11.7% of all homes do.

How much is flood insurance in New Bern?

New Bern 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 New Bern?

By FEMA money that reached New Bern, Hurricane Florence (2018): 7,301 households applied for aid, $14.7M approved, and $45.6M to the City of New Bern for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Florence: 801 paid, $59.8M.

Is New Bern at risk from hurricanes?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (86%), and New Bern’s rate for it is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in New Bern.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

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