Christ Episcopal Church · Photo: Nyttend · Public domainFEMA puts Walnut Cove’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 64% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Walnut Cove gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim 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 Walnut Cove 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
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 Walnut Cove’s grade
River and rain flooding is 82% of the building damage FEMA expects in Walnut Cove, and Walnut Cove’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 57% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 3%, at a rate in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts.
B lower expected damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Walnut Cove’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $460K a year in losses across Walnut Cove: $361K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Walnut Cove flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 2003
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Walnut Cove, from FEMA’s records: 1.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 74% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Walnut Cove isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Stokes County.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Walnut Cove
Disasters that paid out in Walnut Cove itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Walnut Cove), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2004Hurricane Ivan2 households applied for aid$3K aid approved
Stokes 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 Walnut Cove after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Walnut Cove archive →Get ready for what Walnut Cove 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.
- 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 Walnut Cove
Is Walnut Cove at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Walnut Cove has lower expected damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Walnut Cove flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Walnut Cove since 2003, $7K in all, or 1.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 74% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Walnut Cove 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 Stokes County, 14% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.1% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Walnut Cove?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Walnut Cove’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 Walnut Cove?
By FEMA money that reached Walnut Cove, Hurricane Ivan (2004): 2 households applied for aid, $3K approved.
Is Walnut Cove at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (82%), and Walnut Cove’s rate for it is higher than 57% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Walnut Cove.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Walnut Cove’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.