Photo: Ken Lund from Reno, Nevada, USA · CC BY-SA 2.0On FEMA’s figures, few U.S. towns expect more hazard damage per building than Southern Shores, mostly from hurricanes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Southern Shores gets a D− for hazard risk: among the highest expected damage per building of U.S. towns, #272 of 290 in North Carolina. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (83%), then river and rain flooding (13%). Flood insurance has paid 170 claims here since 1991.
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 Southern Shores’ natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Southern Shores 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 Southern Shores’ grade
Hurricanes are 83% of the building damage FEMA expects in Southern Shores, and Southern Shores’ rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 2%, at a rate in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts.
D− #272 of 290 in North Carolina; among the highest expected damage per building of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Southern Shores’ residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
The typical North Carolina town has lower expected damage than 51% of U.S. towns; within the state, Southern Shores has more expected damage per building than 94% of North Carolina towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $10.4M a year in losses across Southern Shores: $10.0M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Southern Shores flood? Yes: 170 flood claims since 1991
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Southern Shores, from FEMA’s records: 66.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 94% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene77 claims · $924K
- Hurricane Matthew37 claims · $344K
- Hurricane Michael10 claims · $114K
Southern Shores is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 6) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Dare County.6 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Southern Shores
Disasters that paid out in Southern Shores itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Southern Shores), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2019Hurricane Dorian$387K to the Town of Southern Shores for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2016Hurricane Matthew16 households applied for aid$5K aid approved$374K to the Town of Southern Shores for repairs37 flood claims paid for it, $344K
- 2011Hurricane Irene24 households applied for aid$10K aid approved$282K to the Town of Southern Shores for repairs77 flood claims paid for it, $924K
- 2005Hurricane Ophelia$3K to the Town of Southern Shores for repairs
- 2003Hurricane Isabel6 households applied for aid$1K aid approved$548K to the Town of Southern Shores for repairs
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$90K to the Town of Southern Shores for repairs10 flood claims paid for it, $36K
Dare 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.
Old photos of Southern Shores after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Southern Shores archive →Southern Shores and its neighbors
Southern Shores is 2nd of the 2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitty Hawk | D−more damage than 98% | hurricanes | 1,608 |
| Southern Shores | D−among the highest damage | hurricanes | 170 |
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 Southern Shores 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.
- Southern Shores 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 Southern Shores
Is Southern Shores at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Southern Shores has among the highest expected damage per building of U.S. towns: D− for hazard risk, #272 of 290 in North Carolina. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (83%) and river and rain flooding (13%). The figures are for the one census tract the town shares with its neighbors. This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Southern Shores flood?
Flood insurance has paid 170 claims in Southern Shores since 1991, $1.6M in all, or 66.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 94% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 13 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (77).
Is Southern Shores 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 Dare County, 84% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 39.7% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Southern Shores?
Southern Shores 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 Southern Shores?
By FEMA money that reached Southern Shores, Hurricane Isabel (2003): 6 households applied for aid, $1K approved, and $548K to the Town of Southern Shores for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 77 paid, $924K.
Is Southern Shores at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (83%), and Southern Shores’ rate for it is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Southern Shores.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Southern Shores’ 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.