FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Pinehurst than in 83% of U.S. towns, mostly from hurricanes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Pinehurst gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 83% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (62%), then river and rain flooding (27%). Flood insurance has paid 246 claims here since 1979.
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 Pinehurst’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Pinehurst 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 Pinehurst’s grade
Hurricanes are 62% of the building damage FEMA expects in Pinehurst, and Pinehurst’s rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 3%, at a rate in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts.
C− higher expected damage per building than 83% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Pinehurst’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.5M a year in losses across Pinehurst: $1.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Pinehurst flood? Yes: 246 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Pinehurst, from FEMA’s records: 242.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 98% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Harvey172 claims · $28.2M
- Hurricane Ike34 claims · $3.6M
- Tropical Storm Imelda8 claims · $331K
Pinehurst isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Orange County.12 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Pinehurst
Disasters that paid out in Pinehurst itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Pinehurst), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Hurricane Beryl843 households applied for aid$641K aid approved
- 2024Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding95 households applied for aid$91K aid approved
- 2021Severe Winter Storms95 households applied for aid$62K aid approved
- 2020Tropical Storms Marco and Laura$74K to the City of Pinehurst for repairs
- 2017Hurricane Harvey273 households applied for aid$897K aid approved$158K to the City of Pinehurst for repairs172 flood claims paid for it, $28.2M
- 2016Severe Storms and Flooding157 households applied for aid$1.1M aid approved
Show all 12
- 2016Severe Storms and Flooding79 households applied for aid$494K aid approved
- 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds and Flooding1 households applied for aid$7K aid approved
- 2008Hurricane Ike414 households applied for aid$140K aid approved$133K to the City of Pinehurst for repairs34 flood claims paid for it, $3.6M
- 2008Hurricane Gustav$16K to the City of Pinehurst for repairs
- 2005Hurricane Rita18 households applied for aid$7K aid approved$203K to the City of Pinehurst for repairs
- 2005Hurricane Rita$2K to the City of Pinehurst for repairs
Orange County has had 24 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then hurricanes and tropical storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Pinehurst after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Pinehurst archive →Get ready for what Pinehurst 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 Pinehurst
Is Pinehurst at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Pinehurst has higher expected damage per building than 83% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (62%) and river and rain flooding (27%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Pinehurst flood?
Flood insurance has paid 246 claims in Pinehurst since 1979, $32.9M in all, or 242.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 98% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 39 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Harvey (172).
Is Pinehurst 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 Orange County, 29.8% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Pinehurst?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Pinehurst’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 Pinehurst?
By FEMA money that reached Pinehurst, Severe Storms and Flooding (2016): 157 households applied for aid, $1.1M approved. By flood claims, Hurricane Harvey: 172 paid, $28.2M.
Is Pinehurst at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (62%), and Pinehurst’s rate for it is in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Pinehurst.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Pinehurst’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.