Natural hazards · Carolina Beach

Carolina Beach, NC natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Carolina Beach comes from hurricanes, and overall the risk is very high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 2,226 claims here since 1979. 12 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Carolina Beach?

Very high

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Carolina Beach to be higher than in 97% of U.S. communities, mostly from hurricanes and coastal flooding.

Hurricanes61%Coastal flooding22%Inland flooding11%Everything else6%

By hazard

What Carolina Beach faces

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

Hurricanes

61% of expected damage

Well above average · among the top 1% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 3 years in the area

Coastal flooding

22% of expected damage

Well above average · among the top 1% of U.S. places

Inland flooding

11% of expected damage

Well below average · higher than 12% of U.S. places

Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Lower here

TornadoesHailIce stormsWinter weatherCold wavesHeat wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesStrong windLightning

Not a risk here

DroughtAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic 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 Carolina Beach flood?

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

2,226paid claims since 1979

$41.7Mpaid to owners

350homes flooded more than once

19792026

Biggest named events

Hurricane Fran: 702 claims, $16.4M
Hurricane Floyd: 460 claims, $8.6M
Hurricane Bonnie: 284 claims, $3.4M

Homes that flooded again and again

Each house = 6 homes. ■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (63) ■ flooded 2+ times

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

🏷️ 20% off flood insurance. Carolina Beach is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 6) for its flood-proofing work.

Insurance rates: New Hanover County.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

42homes raised above flood level

5flood-prone properties bought out and cleared

Disasters that hit Carolina Beach

12 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into Carolina BeachDeclared for New Hanover County only

2024

Potential Tropical Cyclone Eight

$660K to the Town of Carolina Beach for repairs

2020

Hurricane Isaias

$481K to the Town of Carolina Beach for repairs

2019

Hurricane Dorian

$90K to the Town of Carolina Beach for repairs

2018

Hurricane Florence

736 households applied for aid $323K aid approved $1.2M to the Town of Carolina Beach for repairs

2016

Hurricane Matthew

$792K to the Town of Carolina Beach for repairs

2011

Hurricane Irene

10 households applied for aid $9K aid approved $74K to the Town of Carolina Beach for repairs

2010

Severe Storms, Flooding, and Straight-Line Winds

9 households applied for aid $3K aid approved

2008

Tropical Storm Hanna

$40K to the Town of Carolina Beach for repairs

2005

Hurricane Ophelia

$163K to the Town of Carolina Beach for repairs

2003

Hurricane Isabel

4 households applied for aid $634 aid approved $31K to the Town of Carolina Beach for repairs

1999

Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations

$1.3M to the Town of Carolina Beach for repairs

1999

Hurricane Dennis

$59K to the Town of Carolina Beach for repairs

New Hanover County has had 23 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often hurricanes and winter storms.

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. Carolina Beach covers 1 census tract, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Carolina Beach’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the Town of Carolina Beach. 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 Carolina Beach total about $5.8M 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.