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Natural hazards · Burlington

Burlington, NC natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Burlington comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is low for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 52 claims here since 1978. 10 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

How exposed is Burlington?

30
Low
vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Burlington to be higher than in 30% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding.

Inland flooding64%Tornadoes12%Hurricanes7%Everything else18%
By hazard

What Burlington faces

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

Inland flooding

64% of expected damage
Below average · higher than 48% of U.S. places
Recorded about once a year in the area

Tornadoes

12% of expected damage
Above average · higher than 57% of U.S. places

Hurricanes

7% of expected damage
Above average · higher than 73% of U.S. places
Recorded about once every 10 years in the area

Lower here

HailIce stormsWinter weatherCold wavesHeat wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesStrong windLightningDrought

Not a risk here

Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic 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 Burlington flood?

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

52paid claims since 1978
$1.2Mpaid to owners
6homes flooded more than once
19782026

Biggest named events

  • 2025 July TS Chantal: 15 claims, $728K
  • Hurricane Fran: 4 claims, $56K
  • Hurricane Florence: 1 claim, $2K

Homes that flooded again and again

■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (2) ■ flooded 2+ times

of homes in flood zones
are insured
of all homes
are insured
No community discount. Burlington isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Alamance County.
Disasters that hit Burlington

10 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

Disasters the President declared that paid out in Burlington itself: aid to households, or repair grants to the City of Burlington.

Brought FEMA money into BurlingtonDeclared for Alamance County only
2025

Tropical Depression Chantal

$626K to the City of Burlington for repairs
2018

Tropical Storm Michael

$47K to the City of Burlington for repairs
2018

Hurricane Florence

$9K to the City of Burlington for repairs
2014

Severe Winter Storm

$1.9M to the City of Burlington for repairs
2011

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

26 households applied for aid $63K aid approved
2004

Hurricane Ivan

10 households applied for aid
2003

Ice Storm

$399K to the City of Burlington for repairs
2002

Severe Ice Storm

$341K to the City of Burlington for repairs
2000

Severe Winter Storm

$29K to the City of Burlington for repairs
1999

Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations

$17K to the City of Burlington for repairs
Alamance County has had 23 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often hurricanes and winter storms.
Around Burlington

Burlington and the towns around it

Glen Raven: Low, mostly inland floodingGraham: Moderate, mostly inland floodingElon: Moderate, mostly inland floodingGibsonville: Low, mostly inland floodingHaw River: Low, mostly inland floodingWhitsett: High, mostly inland floodingGreen Level: Low, mostly inland floodingBurlington: Low, mostly inland flooding BurlingtonGlen RavenGrahamElonGibsonvilleHaw RiverWhitsett
Very lowLowModerateHighVery high
Whitsettmostly inland floodingHigh
Grahammostly inland floodingModerate
Elonmostly inland floodingModerate
Gibsonvillemostly inland floodingLow
Glen Ravenmostly inland floodingLow
Haw Rivermostly inland floodingLow
Burlingtonmostly 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. Burlington covers 12 census tracts, combined by population.
Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Burlington’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Burlington. FEMA’s model follows property values, so a place that recently lost many homes can rate lower than it feels.

FEMA’s expected losses across Burlington total about $13.5M a year, counting buildings, people and crops.

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.

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