Photo: NCDOTcommunications · CC BY 2.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Wilmington than in 96% of U.S. towns; 469 flood claims have been paid there
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Wilmington gets a D− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns, #245 of 290 in North Carolina. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (76%), then river and rain flooding (19%). Flood insurance has paid 469 claims here since 1983.
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 Wilmington’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Wilmington 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 Wilmington’s grade
Hurricanes are 76% of the building damage FEMA expects in Wilmington, and Wilmington’s rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 1%, at a rate in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
D− #245 of 290 in North Carolina; higher expected damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Wilmington’s residents live in 37 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, Wilmington has more expected damage per building than 84% of North Carolina towns.
Among the 400 U.S. cities of 100,000 or more, Wilmington has higher expected damage per building than 95% (#381 of 400). Because it is so big, its total expected yearly loss, $134M, is the 74th largest of those 400.
Does Wilmington flood? Yes: 469 flood claims since 1983
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Wilmington, from FEMA’s records: 7.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 68% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Florence225 claims · $6.7M
- Hurricane Floyd64 claims · $957K
- Hurricane Fran50 claims · $1.4M
Wilmington isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: New Hanover County.12 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Wilmington
Disasters that paid out in Wilmington itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Wilmington), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2020Hurricane Isaias$3.3M to the City of Wilmington for repairs4 flood claims paid that year
- 2019Hurricane Dorian$141K to the City of Wilmington for repairs6 flood claims paid that year
- 2018Hurricane Florence18,719 households applied for aid$11.5M aid approved$26.1M to the City of Wilmington for repairs225 flood claims paid for it, $6.7M
- 2016Hurricane Matthew4 households applied for aid$1.3M to the City of Wilmington for repairs4 flood claims paid that year
- 2011Hurricane Irene476 households applied for aid$105K aid approved$662K to the City of Wilmington for repairs4 flood claims paid that year
- 2010Severe Storms, Flooding, and Straight-line Winds246 households applied for aid$125K aid approved8 flood claims paid that year
Show all 12
- 2008Tropical Storm Hanna$219K to the City of Wilmington for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2005Hurricane Ophelia$468K to the City of Wilmington for repairs
- 2005Hurricane Ophelia$225K to the City of Wilmington for repairs
- 2003Hurricane Isabel2,524 households applied for aid$2.2M aid approved$183K to the City of Wilmington for repairs
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$2.7M to the City of Wilmington for repairs64 flood claims paid for it, $957K
- 1999Hurricane Dennis$81K to the City of Wilmington for repairs
New Hanover County has had 23 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 Wilmington after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Wilmington archive →Wilmington and its neighbors
Wilmington has the lowest expected damage per building of the 7 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wilmington | D−more damage than 96% | hurricanes | 469 |
| Myrtle Grove | D−more damage than 97% | hurricanes | 217 |
| Kings Grant | D−more damage than 97% | hurricanes | 34 |
| Wrightsboro | D−more damage than 97% | hurricanes | 1 |
| Ogden | D−more damage than 97% | hurricanes | 160 |
| Silver Lake | D−more damage than 98% | hurricanes | 7 |
| Murraysville | D−more damage than 98% | hurricanes | 1 |
| Hightsville | — | 397 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
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 Wilmington 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 Wilmington
Is Wilmington at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Wilmington has higher expected damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns: D− for hazard risk, #245 of 290 in North Carolina. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (76%) and river and rain flooding (19%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Wilmington flood?
Flood insurance has paid 469 claims in Wilmington since 1983, $11.1M in all, or 7.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 68% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 87 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Florence (225).
Is Wilmington 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 New Hanover County, 75% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 14.7% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Wilmington?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Wilmington’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 Wilmington?
By FEMA money that reached Wilmington, Hurricane Florence (2018): 18,719 households applied for aid, $11.5M approved, and $26.1M to the City of Wilmington for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Florence: 225 paid, $6.7M.
Is Wilmington at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (76%), and Wilmington’s rate for it is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Wilmington.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Wilmington’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.