Natural hazards · Holden Beach

Holden Beach, NC natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Holden Beach comes from hurricanes, and overall the risk is very high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 1,310 claims here since 1979. 10 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Holden Beach?

Very high

vs. U.S. communities

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

Hurricanes64%Coastal flooding19%Inland flooding14%Everything else3%

By hazard

What Holden Beach faces

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

Hurricanes

64% 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

19% of expected damage

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

Inland flooding

14% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 34% 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 Holden Beach flood?

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

1,310paid claims since 1979

$14.3Mpaid to owners

255homes flooded more than once

19792026

Biggest named events

Hurricane Hugo: 434 claims, $4.4M
Hurricane Floyd: 245 claims, $2.8M
Hurricane Isaias: 83 claims, $1.2M

Homes that flooded again and again

Each house = 5 homes. ■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (20) ■ flooded 2+ times

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

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

Insurance rates: Brunswick County.

Disasters that hit Holden Beach

10 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into Holden BeachDeclared for Brunswick County only

2020

Hurricane Isaias

$2.2M to the Town of Holden Beach for repairs

2019

Hurricane Dorian

$5.4M to the Town of Holden Beach for repairs

2018

Tropical Storm Michael

$4.0M to the Town of Holden Beach for repairs

2018

Hurricane Florence

16 households applied for aid $12K aid approved $6.8M to the Town of Holden Beach for repairs

2016

Hurricane Matthew

7 households applied for aid $11K aid approved $2.4M to the Town of Holden Beach for repairs

2011

Hurricane Irene

$652K to the Town of Holden Beach for repairs

2008

Tropical Storm Hanna

$1.8M to the Town of Holden Beach for repairs

2005

Hurricane Ophelia

$11K to the Town of Holden Beach for repairs

1999

Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations

$317K to the Town of Holden Beach for repairs

1999

Hurricane Dennis

$6K to the Town of Holden Beach for repairs

Brunswick County has had 26 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. Holden Beach covers 1 census tract, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Holden Beach’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the Town of Holden 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 Holden Beach total about $4.6M 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.