Natural hazards · Biltmore Forest

Biltmore Forest, NC natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Biltmore Forest comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is low for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 2 claims here since 2019. 4 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025 · OpenFEMA claims, aid & declarations

Expected damage

How exposed is Biltmore Forest?

Low

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Biltmore Forest to be higher than in 25% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and cold waves.

Inland flooding61%Cold waves15%Drought6%Everything else18%

By hazard

What Biltmore Forest faces

Each hazard’s share of the damage FEMA expects here, and how that compares with the rest of the country.

Inland flooding

61% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 47% of U.S. places

Recorded about once a year in the area

Cold waves

15% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 56% of U.S. places

Recorded about 4 times a year in the area

Drought

6% of expected damage

Recorded about 29 times a year in the area

Lower here

HurricanesTornadoesHailIce stormsWinter weatherWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesStrong windLightning

Not a risk here

Coastal floodingHeat wavesAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.

Flood insurance claims

Does Biltmore Forest flood?

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Biltmore Forest, from FEMA’s records.

2paid claims since 2019

$31Kpaid to owners

0homes flooded more than once

20192026

Biggest named events

Hurricane Helene: 1 claim, $31K

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

No community discount. Biltmore Forest isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Buncombe County.

Disasters that hit Biltmore Forest

4 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

Disasters the President declared that paid out in Biltmore Forest itself: aid to households, or repair grants to the Town of Biltmore Forest.

Brought FEMA money into Biltmore ForestDeclared for Buncombe County only

2024

Tropical Storm Helene

36 households applied for aid $57K aid approved $11.6M to the Town of Biltmore Forest for repairs

2009

Severe Winter Storms and Flooding

$65K to the Town of Biltmore Forest for repairs

2004

Hurricane Ivan

1 household applied for aid $65 aid approved $87K to the Town of Biltmore Forest for repairs

2004

Tropical Storm Frances

$3K to the Town of Biltmore Forest for repairs

Buncombe County has had 18 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often hurricanes and winter storms.

Around Biltmore Forest

Biltmore Forest and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Ashevillemostly inland floodingLow

Biltmore Forestmostly inland floodingLow

About these numbers

How to read this page

An average, not a forecastFEMA’s National Risk Index estimates the damage 18 kinds of natural hazards cause in a typical year, from decades of records and models. A quiet decade can follow a bad year.

Compared by rate“Higher than N%” compares yearly damage as a share of what’s here, so a big city isn’t rated riskier just for having more buildings. Biltmore Forest is smaller than a census tract, so it shares the figures of the tract around its center.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Biltmore Forest’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the Town of Biltmore Forest. FEMA’s model follows property values, so a place that recently lost many homes can rate lower than it feels.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025); 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. Census tracts: U.S. Census Bureau.