FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Stokesdale than in 74% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Stokesdale gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns, #39 of 290 in North Carolina. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%). FEMA’s files show no paid flood insurance claims here.
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 Stokesdale faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
River and rain flooding
Hurricanes
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 Stokesdale’s grade
River and rain flooding is 84% of the building damage FEMA expects in Stokesdale, and Stokesdale’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 50% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 7% (higher than 70% of U.S. census tracts).
B+ #39 of 290 in North Carolina; lower expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Stokesdale’s residents live in 2 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, Stokesdale has less expected damage per building than 87% of North Carolina towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.1M a year in losses across Stokesdale: $965K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Stokesdale flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Stokesdale. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Stokesdale isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Guilford County.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Stokesdale
Disasters that paid out in Stokesdale itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Stokesdale), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2018Hurricane Florence1 households applied for aid$56K to the Town of Stokesdale for repairs
- 2004Hurricane Ivan34 households applied for aid$29K aid approved
Guilford County has had 24 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 Stokesdale after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Stokesdale archive →Stokesdale and its neighbors
Stokesdale has the lowest expected damage per building of the 3 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stokesdale | B+less damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 0 |
| Oak Ridge | Bless damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Summerfield | B−less damage than 50% | river and rain flooding | — |
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 Stokesdale faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 Stokesdale
Is Stokesdale at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Stokesdale has lower expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #39 of 290 in North Carolina. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%) and hurricanes (7%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Stokesdale 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 Guilford County, 40% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Stokesdale?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Stokesdale’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Stokesdale?
By FEMA money that reached Stokesdale, Hurricane Florence (2018): 1 households applied for aid, $0 approved, and $56K to the Town of Stokesdale for repairs.
Is Stokesdale at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (84%), and Stokesdale’s rate for it is lower than 50% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Stokesdale.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Stokesdale’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.