Wilson Kindley Farm and Kindley Mine · Photo: JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ, M.D. · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Trinity 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, Trinity gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns, #107 of 290 in North Carolina. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (78%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 2018.
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 Trinity 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 Trinity’s grade
River and rain flooding is 78% of the building damage FEMA expects in Trinity, and Trinity’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 59% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 2%, at a rate in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts.
B #107 of 290 in North Carolina; lower expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Trinity’s residents live in 3 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, Trinity has less expected damage per building than 63% of North Carolina towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.9M a year in losses across Trinity: $1.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Trinity flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 2018
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Trinity, from FEMA’s records: 0.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 93% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Florence1 claim · $14K
Trinity isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Randolph County.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Trinity
Disasters that paid out in Trinity itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Trinity), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2014Severe Winter Storm$12K to the City of Trinity for repairs
- 2004Hurricane Ivan1 households applied for aid$1K aid approved
- 2002Severe Ice Storm$65K to the City of Trinity for repairs
Randolph County has had 20 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 Trinity after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Trinity archive →Trinity and its neighbors
Trinity 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thomasville | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 18 |
| Trinity | Bless damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Archdale | Bless damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 17 |
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 Trinity 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 Trinity
Is Trinity at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Trinity has lower expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #107 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 Trinity flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Trinity since 2018, $14K in all, or 0.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 93% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Hurricane Florence (1).
Is Trinity 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 Randolph County, 35% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Trinity?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Trinity’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 Trinity?
By FEMA money that reached Trinity, Severe Ice Storm (2002): $65K to the City of Trinity for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Florence: 1 paid, $14K.
Is Trinity at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (78%), and Trinity’s rate for it is higher than 59% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Trinity.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Trinity’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.