Natural hazards · Clinton

Clinton, NC natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Clinton comes from hurricanes, and overall the risk is very high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 30 claims here since 1984. 7 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Clinton?

Very high

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Clinton to be higher than in 84% of U.S. communities, mostly from hurricanes and inland flooding.

Hurricanes51%Inland flooding27%Tornadoes6%Everything else15%

By hazard

What Clinton faces

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

Hurricanes

51% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 95% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 4 years in the area

Inland flooding

27% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 55% of U.S. places

Recorded about once a year in the area

Tornadoes

6% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 83% of U.S. places

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 Clinton flood?

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

30paid claims since 1984

$380Kpaid to owners

2homes flooded more than once

19842026

Biggest named events

Hurricane Matthew: 6 claims, $118K
Hurricane Florence: 5 claims, $65K
Hurricane Floyd: 4 claims, $47K

Homes that flooded again and again

■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (1) ■ flooded 2+ times

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

🏷️ 10% off flood insurance. Clinton is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8) for its flood-proofing work.

Insurance rates: Sampson County.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

1homes raised above flood level

1flood-prone properties bought out and cleared

Disasters that hit Clinton

7 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into ClintonDeclared for Sampson County only

2019

Hurricane Dorian

$17K to the City of Clinton for repairs

2018

Hurricane Florence

976 households applied for aid $461K aid approved $360K to the City of Clinton for repairs

2016

Hurricane Matthew

787 households applied for aid $481K aid approved $246K to the City of Clinton for repairs

2011

Hurricane Irene

22 households applied for aid $17K aid approved $79K to the City of Clinton for repairs

2011

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

217 households applied for aid $70K aid approved $35K to the City of Clinton for repairs

2003

Hurricane Isabel

275 households applied for aid $133K aid approved

1999

Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations

$379K to the City of Clinton for repairs

Sampson County has had 19 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often hurricanes and severe 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. Clinton covers 1 census tract, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Clinton’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Clinton. 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 Clinton total about $1.1M 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.