Bertie Memorial Hospital · Photo: Nyttend · Public domainFEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Windsor than in 89% of U.S. towns, mostly from hurricanes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Windsor gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns, #235 of 290 in North Carolina. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (61%), then river and rain flooding (34%). Flood insurance has paid 286 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 Windsor’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Windsor 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 Windsor’s grade
Hurricanes are 61% of the building damage FEMA expects in Windsor, and Windsor’s rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts. Next is river and rain flooding at 34% (higher than 56% of U.S. census tracts).
D #235 of 290 in North Carolina; higher expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Windsor’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, Windsor has more expected damage per building than 81% of North Carolina towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.2M a year in losses across Windsor: $2.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Windsor flood? Yes: 286 flood claims since 1996
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Windsor, from FEMA’s records: 305.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 99% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Matthew72 claims · $2.0M
- Hurricane Floyd47 claims · $1.3M
- Hurricane Irene3 claims · $54K
Windsor isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Bertie County.6 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Windsor
Disasters that paid out in Windsor itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Windsor), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2016Hurricane Matthew504 households applied for aid$544K aid approved$593K to the Town of Windsor for repairs72 flood claims paid for it, $2.0M
- 2011Hurricane Irene306 households applied for aid$298K aid approved$101K to the Town of Windsor for repairs3 flood claims paid for it, $54K
- 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding22 households applied for aid$49K aid approved
- 2010Severe Storms, Flooding, and Straight-line Winds447 households applied for aid$828K aid approved92 flood claims paid that year
- 2003Hurricane Isabel1,182 households applied for aid$1.1M aid approved$286K to the Town of Windsor for repairs3 flood claims paid for it, $17K
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$1.5M to the Town of Windsor for repairs47 flood claims paid for it, $1.3M
Bertie County has had 21 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 Windsor after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Windsor archive →Get ready for what Windsor 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 Windsor
Is Windsor at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Windsor has higher expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #235 of 290 in North Carolina. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (61%) and river and rain flooding (34%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Windsor flood?
Flood insurance has paid 286 claims in Windsor since 1996, $10.7M in all, or 305.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 99% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 81 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Matthew (72).
Is Windsor 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 Bertie County, 14% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.9% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Windsor?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Windsor’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 Windsor?
By FEMA money that reached Windsor, Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations (1999): $1.5M to the Town of Windsor for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Matthew: 72 paid, $2.0M.
Is Windsor at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (61%), and Windsor’s rate for it is in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Windsor.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Windsor’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.