Sunnyside · Photo: Nicholas Oren Rawlings · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Wendell 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, Wendell gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns, #103 of 290 in North Carolina. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (83%). Flood insurance has paid 8 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 Wendell 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
Hail
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 Wendell’s grade
River and rain flooding is 83% of the building damage FEMA expects in Wendell, and Wendell’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 61% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 5% (higher than 69% of U.S. census tracts).
B #103 of 290 in North Carolina; lower expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Wendell’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, Wendell has less expected damage per building than 65% of North Carolina towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.2M a year in losses across Wendell: $1.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Wendell flood? Rarely: 8 flood claims since 1996
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Wendell, from FEMA’s records: 1.5 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 68% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Floyd4 claims · $72K
- Hurricane Matthew2 claims · $68K
- Hurricane Fran1 claim · $642
Wendell isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Wake County.7 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Wendell
Disasters that paid out in Wendell itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Wendell), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2018Hurricane Florence2 households applied for aid$5K aid approved
- 2016Hurricane Matthew56 households applied for aid$8K aid approved$42K to the Town of Wendell for repairs2 flood claims paid for it, $68K
- 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding4 households applied for aid$3K aid approved
- 2003Hurricane Isabel16 households applied for aid$9K aid approved$13K to the Town of Wendell for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2002Severe Ice Storm$98K to the Town of Wendell for repairs
- 2000Severe Winter Storm$8K to the Town of Wendell for repairs
Show all 7
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$58K to the Town of Wendell for repairs4 flood claims paid for it, $72K
Wake 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 Wendell after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Wendell archive →Wendell and its neighbors
Wendell is 2nd of the 2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zebulon | A−less damage than 81% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
| Wendell | Bless damage than 59% | river and rain flooding | 8 |
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 Wendell 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.
- Park in a garage or under cover when storms are forecast.
- Stay away from windows while it falls.
- Photograph roof and car damage for your insurer.
- 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 Wendell
Is Wendell at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Wendell has lower expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #103 of 290 in North Carolina. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (83%) and hurricanes (5%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Wendell flood?
Flood insurance has paid 8 claims in Wendell since 1996, $145K in all, or 1.5 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 68% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Floyd (4).
Is Wendell 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 Wake County, 46% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.8% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Wendell?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Wendell’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 Wendell?
By FEMA money that reached Wendell, Severe Ice Storm (2002): $98K to the Town of Wendell for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Floyd: 4 paid, $72K.
Is Wendell at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (83%), and Wendell’s rate for it is higher than 61% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Wendell.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Wendell’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.