Bethabara Historic District · Photo: Barber Photo Supply Company, Photographer · Public domainFEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Winston-Salem as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Winston-Salem gets a B− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns, #136 of 290 in North Carolina. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%). Flood insurance has paid 250 claims here since 1978.
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 Winston-Salem’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Winston-Salem 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 Winston-Salem’s grade
River and rain flooding is 82% of the building damage FEMA expects in Winston-Salem, and Winston-Salem’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 65% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 2%, at a rate in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts.
B− #136 of 290 in North Carolina; lower expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Winston-Salem’s residents live in 75 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, Winston-Salem has less expected damage per building than 53% of North Carolina towns.
Among the 400 U.S. cities of 100,000 or more, Winston-Salem has lower expected damage per building than 62% (#151 of 400). Because it is so big, its total expected yearly loss, $67.0M, is the 179th largest of those 400.
Does Winston-Salem flood? Yes: 250 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Winston-Salem, from FEMA’s records: 2.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 60% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Michael14 claims · $468K
- Hurricane Eta13 claims · $268K
- Hurricane Florence3 claims · $22K
Winston-Salem is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Forsyth County.5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Winston-Salem
Disasters that paid out in Winston-Salem itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Winston-Salem), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Tropical Storm Helene562 households applied for aid$345K aid approved3 flood claims paid that year
- 2018Tropical Storm Michael$1.6M to the City of Winston-Salem for repairs14 flood claims paid for it, $468K
- 2004Hurricane Ivan10 households applied for aid$4K aid approved7 flood claims paid that year
- 2003Hurricane Isabel7 households applied for aid$839 aid approved
- 2003Ice Storm$1.8M to the City of Winston-Salem for repairs
Forsyth 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 Winston-Salem after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Winston-Salem archive →Winston-Salem and its neighbors
Winston-Salem is 5th of the 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rural Hall | A−less damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Walkertown | Bless damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Midway | Bless damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Kernersville | Bless damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Winston-Salem | B−less damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | 250 |
| Tobaccoville | B−more damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Clemmons | B−more damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
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 Winston-Salem 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.
- Winston-Salem residents get 10% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Winston-Salem
Is Winston-Salem at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Winston-Salem has lower expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #136 of 290 in North Carolina. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%) and tornadoes (7%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Winston-Salem flood?
Flood insurance has paid 250 claims in Winston-Salem since 1978, $3.5M in all, or 2.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 60% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 36 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Michael (14).
Is Winston-Salem 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 Forsyth County, 45% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Winston-Salem?
Winston-Salem is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8), which takes 10% off federal flood insurance policies for its flood-proofing work. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Winston-Salem?
By FEMA money that reached Winston-Salem, Ice Storm (2003): $1.8M to the City of Winston-Salem for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Michael: 14 paid, $468K.
Is Winston-Salem at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (82%), and Winston-Salem’s rate for it is higher than 65% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Winston-Salem.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Winston-Salem’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.