Photo: Ildar Sagdejev (Specious) · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Swepsonville faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Swepsonville gets a B− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns, #162 of 290 in North Carolina. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (83%). 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 Swepsonville 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
Tornadoes
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 Swepsonville’s grade
River and rain flooding is 83% of the building damage FEMA expects in Swepsonville, and Swepsonville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 70% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 6% (higher than 74% of U.S. census tracts).
B− #162 of 290 in North Carolina; higher expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Swepsonville’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, Swepsonville has more expected damage per building than 56% of North Carolina towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $626K a year in losses across Swepsonville: $510K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Swepsonville flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Swepsonville. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Swepsonville isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Alamance County.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Swepsonville
Disasters that paid out in Swepsonville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Swepsonville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2004Hurricane Ivan1 households applied for aid$1K aid approved
Alamance County has had 23 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 Swepsonville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Swepsonville archive →Get ready for what Swepsonville 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.
- Pick your spot now: the lowest floor, an inside room, no windows.
- A watch means be ready; a warning means take cover now.
- Keep shoes and a flashlight by the bed.
- 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 Swepsonville
Is Swepsonville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Swepsonville has higher expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #162 of 290 in North Carolina. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (83%) and hurricanes (6%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Swepsonville 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 Alamance County, 53% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.6% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Swepsonville?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Swepsonville’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 Swepsonville?
By FEMA money that reached Swepsonville, Hurricane Ivan (2004): 1 households applied for aid, $1K approved.
Is Swepsonville at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (83%), and Swepsonville’s rate for it is higher than 70% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Swepsonville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Swepsonville’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.