Photo: Doug Anderson · CC BY 2.0FEMA puts Oak Island’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 97% of U.S. towns, mostly from hurricanes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Oak Island gets a D− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 97% of U.S. towns, #260 of 290 in North Carolina. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (78%), then river and rain flooding (13%). Flood insurance has paid 912 claims here since 1986.
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 Oak Island’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Oak Island 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
Coastal 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 Oak Island’s grade
Hurricanes are 78% of the building damage FEMA expects in Oak Island, and Oak Island’s rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 6%, at a rate in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
D− #260 of 290 in North Carolina; higher expected damage per building than 97% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Oak Island’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, Oak Island has more expected damage per building than 90% of North Carolina towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $13.6M a year in losses across Oak Island: $12.6M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Oak Island flood? Yes: 912 flood claims since 1986
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Oak Island, from FEMA’s records: 84.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 95% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Floyd265 claims · $4.0M
- Hurricane Isaias263 claims · $4.9M
- Hurricane Florence94 claims · $2.3M
Oak Island is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 6) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Brunswick County.10 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Oak Island
Disasters that paid out in Oak Island itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Oak Island), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Potential Tropical Cyclone Eight$299K to the Town of Oak Island for repairs35 flood claims paid that year
- 2020Hurricane Isaias$2.7M to the Town of Oak Island for repairs263 flood claims paid for it, $4.9M
- 2018Hurricane Florence556 households applied for aid$229K aid approved$9.3M to the Town of Oak Island for repairs94 flood claims paid for it, $2.3M
- 2016Hurricane Matthew11 households applied for aid$4K aid approved$16.1M to the Town of Oak Island for repairs47 flood claims paid for it, $992K
- 2011Hurricane Irene6 households applied for aid$772 aid approved$47K to the Town of Oak Island for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2010Severe Storms, Flooding, and Straight-line Winds9 households applied for aid$8K aid approved2 flood claims paid that year
Show all 10
- 2008Tropical Storm Hanna$55K to the Town of Oak Island for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2003Hurricane Isabel5 households applied for aid$5K aid approved$2K to the Town of Oak Island for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$3.1M to the Town of Oak Island for repairs265 flood claims paid for it, $4.0M
- 1999Hurricane Dennis$29K to the Town of Oak Island for repairs
Brunswick County has had 25 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.
Also 1 FEMA wildfire suppression grant (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Brunswick County, 2025–2025.
Old photos of Oak Island after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Oak Island archive →Oak Island and its neighbors
Oak Island is 2nd of the 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boiling Spring Lakes | D−more damage than 97% | hurricanes | 86 |
| Oak Island | D−more damage than 97% | hurricanes | 912 |
| St. James | D−more damage than 98% | hurricanes | 90 |
| Caswell Beach | — | 491 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
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 Oak Island 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.
- Know your evacuation zone and the way off the coast.
- Storm surge comes fast: leave when you’re told, not when the water arrives.
- Move cars to high ground before king tides and nor’easters.
- 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.
- Oak Island residents get 20% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Oak Island
Is Oak Island at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Oak Island has higher expected damage per building than 97% of U.S. towns: D− for hazard risk, #260 of 290 in North Carolina. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (78%) and river and rain flooding (13%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Oak Island flood?
Flood insurance has paid 912 claims in Oak Island since 1986, $14.8M in all, or 84.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 95% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 228 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Floyd (265).
Is Oak Island 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 Brunswick County, 78% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 21.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Oak Island?
Oak Island is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 6), which takes 20% 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 Oak Island?
By FEMA money that reached Oak Island, Hurricane Matthew (2016): 11 households applied for aid, $4K approved, and $16.1M to the Town of Oak Island for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Floyd: 265 paid, $4.0M.
Is Oak Island at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (78%), and Oak Island’s rate for it is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Oak Island.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Oak Island’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.