Natural hazards · Laurinburg

Laurinburg, NC natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Laurinburg comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is moderate for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 14 claims here since 2009. 6 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Laurinburg?

Moderate

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Laurinburg to be higher than in 42% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and tornadoes.

Inland flooding35%Tornadoes19%Hurricanes17%Earthquakes11%Everything else18%

By hazard

What Laurinburg faces

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

Inland flooding

35% of expected damage

Well below average · higher than 23% of U.S. places

Recorded about once a year in the area

Tornadoes

19% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 81% of U.S. places

Hurricanes

17% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 85% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 5 years in the area

Earthquakes

11% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 77% of U.S. places

Lower here

HailIce stormsWinter weatherCold wavesHeat wavesWildfireLandslidesStrong 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 Laurinburg flood?

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

14paid claims since 2009

$438Kpaid to owners

1homes flooded more than once

20092026

Biggest named events

Hurricane Florence: 10 claims, $275K
Hurricane Debby: 2 claims, $114K

Homes that flooded again and again

■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (0) ■ flooded 2+ times

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

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

Insurance rates: Scotland County.

Disasters that hit Laurinburg

6 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into LaurinburgDeclared for Scotland County only

2022

Hurricane Ian

$31K to the City of Laurinburg for repairs

2018

Hurricane Florence

1,970 households applied for aid $1.9M aid approved $1.2M to the City of Laurinburg for repairs

2016

Hurricane Matthew

400 households applied for aid $81K aid approved $808K to the City of Laurinburg for repairs

2004

Tropical Storm Frances

149 households applied for aid $106K aid approved

2000

Severe Winter Storm

$4K to the City of Laurinburg for repairs

1999

Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations

$61K to the City of Laurinburg for repairs

Scotland County has had 14 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. Laurinburg covers 1 census tract, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Laurinburg’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Laurinburg. 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 Laurinburg total about $1.8M 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.