Photo: Pubdog · Public domainStorms, floods and disasters in Ocean Isle Beach
Ocean Isle Beach isn’t graded for hazard risk: Ocean Isle Beach has 903 residents; we grade towns of 1,000 or more. Flood insurance has paid 1,287 claims here since 1979.
What Ocean Isle Beach faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
Hurricanes
Coastal flooding
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.
Does Ocean Isle Beach flood? Yes: 1,287 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Ocean Isle Beach, from FEMA’s records.
- Hurricane Hugo475 claims · $2.2M
- Hurricane Isaias189 claims · $1.2M
- Hurricane Matthew110 claims · $677K
Ocean Isle Beach is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Brunswick County.13 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Ocean Isle Beach
Disasters that paid out in Ocean Isle Beach itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Ocean Isle Beach), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2022Hurricane Ian$19K to the Town of Ocean Isle Beach for repairs34 flood claims paid for it, $182K
- 2020Hurricane Isaias$1.2M to the Town of Ocean Isle Beach for repairs189 flood claims paid for it, $1.2M
- 2019Hurricane Dorian$20K to the Town of Ocean Isle Beach for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2018Hurricane Florence239 households applied for aid$104K aid approved$122K to the Town of Ocean Isle Beach for repairs11 flood claims paid that year
- 2016Hurricane Matthew50 households applied for aid$57K aid approved$240K to the Town of Ocean Isle Beach for repairs110 flood claims paid for it, $677K
- 2011Hurricane Irene5 households applied for aid$3K aid approved$9K to the Town of Ocean Isle Beach for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
Show all 13
- 2010Severe Storms, Flooding, and Straight-line Winds23 households applied for aid$32K aid approved7 flood claims paid that year
- 2008Tropical Storm Hanna$98K to the Town of Ocean Isle Beach for repairs13 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Hurricane Ophelia$19K to the Town of Ocean Isle Beach for repairs
- 2005Hurricane Ophelia$29K to the Town of Ocean Isle Beach for repairs
- 2003Hurricane Isabel1 households applied for aid$2K aid approved
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$305K to the Town of Ocean Isle Beach for repairs94 flood claims paid for it, $1.2M
- 1999Hurricane Dennis$10K to the Town of Ocean Isle Beach 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 Ocean Isle Beach after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Ocean Isle Beach archive →Get ready for what Ocean Isle Beach 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Ocean Isle Beach residents get 15% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Ocean Isle Beach
Does Ocean Isle Beach flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1,287 claims in Ocean Isle Beach since 1979, $9.9M in all. 138 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Hugo (475).
Is Ocean Isle Beach 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 Ocean Isle Beach?
Ocean Isle Beach is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7), which takes 15% 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 Ocean Isle Beach?
By FEMA money that reached Ocean Isle Beach, Hurricane Isaias (2020): $1.2M to the Town of Ocean Isle Beach for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Hugo: 475 paid, $2.2M.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Ocean Isle Beach.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Ocean Isle Beach’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.