Dr. Earl S. Sloan House · Photo: Cecouchman · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Trent Woods than almost anywhere in the U.S., mostly from hurricanes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Trent Woods gets a D− for hazard risk: among the highest expected damage per building of U.S. towns, #276 of 290 in North Carolina. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (81%), then river and rain flooding (16%). Flood insurance has paid 227 claims here since 1996.
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 Trent Woods’ natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Trent Woods 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 Trent Woods’ grade
Hurricanes are 81% of the building damage FEMA expects in Trent Woods, and Trent Woods’ rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts. Next is river and rain flooding at 16% (higher than 59% of U.S. census tracts).
D− #276 of 290 in North Carolina; among the highest expected damage per building of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Trent Woods’ 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, Trent Woods has more expected damage per building than 95% of North Carolina towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.6M a year in losses across Trent Woods: $4.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Trent Woods flood? Yes: 227 flood claims since 1996
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Trent Woods, from FEMA’s records: 119.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 97% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Florence136 claims · $12.8M
- Hurricane Irene33 claims · $572K
- Hurricane Fran24 claims · $195K
Trent Woods isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Craven County.6 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Trent Woods
Disasters that paid out in Trent Woods itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Trent Woods), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2018Hurricane Florence89 households applied for aid$210K aid approved$701K to the Town of Trent Woods for repairs136 flood claims paid for it, $12.8M
- 2011Hurricane Irene44 households applied for aid$3K aid approved$297K to the Town of Trent Woods for repairs33 flood claims paid for it, $572K
- 2010Severe Storms, Flooding, and Straight-line Winds21 households applied for aid$27K aid approved10 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Hurricane Ophelia$1K to the Town of Trent Woods for repairs4 flood claims paid for it, $25K
- 2003Hurricane Isabel7 households applied for aid$419 aid approved$14K to the Town of Trent Woods for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$30K to the Town of Trent Woods for repairs7 flood claims paid for it, $69K
Craven 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 Trent Woods after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Trent Woods archive →Trent Woods and its neighbors
Trent Woods is 2nd of the 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Bern | D−among the highest damage | hurricanes | 1,621 |
| Trent Woods | D−among the highest damage | hurricanes | 227 |
| Brices Creek | D−among the highest damage | hurricanes | — |
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 Trent Woods 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.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Trent Woods
Is Trent Woods at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Trent Woods has among the highest expected damage per building of U.S. towns: D− for hazard risk, #276 of 290 in North Carolina. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (81%) and river and rain flooding (16%). 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 Trent Woods flood?
Flood insurance has paid 227 claims in Trent Woods since 1996, $13.9M in all, or 119.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 97% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 44 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Florence (136).
Is Trent Woods 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 Craven County, 61% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 11.7% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Trent Woods?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Trent Woods’ 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 Trent Woods?
By FEMA money that reached Trent Woods, Hurricane Florence (2018): 89 households applied for aid, $210K approved, and $701K to the Town of Trent Woods for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Florence: 136 paid, $12.8M.
Is Trent Woods at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (81%), and Trent Woods’ rate for it is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Trent Woods.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Trent Woods’ 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.