Mitchell House · Photo: Hennap at en.wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0Less hazard damage per building is expected in Thomasville than in 62% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Thomasville gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns, #85 of 290 in North Carolina. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (78%). Flood insurance has paid 18 claims here since 2003.
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 Thomasville 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
Tornadoes
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 Thomasville’s grade
River and rain flooding is 78% of the building damage FEMA expects in Thomasville, and Thomasville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 55% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 3%, at a rate in the top 7% of U.S. census tracts.
B #85 of 290 in North Carolina; lower expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Thomasville’s residents live in 10 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, Thomasville has less expected damage per building than 71% of North Carolina towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $8.7M a year in losses across Thomasville: $6.9M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Thomasville flood? Sometimes: 18 flood claims since 2003
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Thomasville, from FEMA’s records: 1.5 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 69% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Isabel1 claim · $6K
- The 2025 July TS Chantal1 claim · $25K
- Hurricane Eta1 claim · $5K
Thomasville isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Davidson County.8 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Thomasville
Disasters that paid out in Thomasville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Thomasville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2018Tropical Storm Michael$88K to the City of Thomasville for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $82K
- 2018Hurricane Florence$20K to the City of Thomasville for repairs
- 2014Severe Winter Storm$594K to the City of Thomasville for repairs
- 2004Hurricane Ivan10 households applied for aid$9K aid approved2 flood claims paid that year
- 2003Hurricane Isabel15 households applied for aid$24K aid approved1 flood claim paid for it, $6K
- 2002Severe Ice Storm$554K to the City of Thomasville for repairs
Show all 8
- 2000Severe Winter Storm$7K to the City of Thomasville for repairs
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$9K to the City of Thomasville for repairs
Davidson 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.
Old photos of Thomasville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Thomasville archive →Thomasville and its neighbors
Thomasville 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thomasville | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 18 |
| Trinity | Bless damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| High Point | Bless damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 72 |
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 Thomasville 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.
- 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.
- 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 Thomasville
Is Thomasville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Thomasville has lower expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #85 of 290 in North Carolina. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (78%) and tornadoes (7%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Thomasville flood?
Flood insurance has paid 18 claims in Thomasville since 2003, $287K in all, or 1.5 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 69% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 4 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Isabel (1).
Is Thomasville 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 Davidson County, 33% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Thomasville?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Thomasville’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 Thomasville?
By FEMA money that reached Thomasville, Severe Winter Storm (2014): $594K to the City of Thomasville for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Isabel: 1 paid, $6K.
Is Thomasville at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (78%), and Thomasville’s rate for it is higher than 55% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Thomasville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Thomasville’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.