Natural hazards · Lumberton

Lumberton, NC natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Lumberton comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 756 claims here since 1979. 8 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Lumberton?

High

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Lumberton to be higher than in 71% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and hurricanes.

Inland flooding37%Hurricanes31%Tornadoes14%Earthquakes8%Everything else10%

By hazard

What Lumberton faces

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

Inland flooding

37% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 50% of U.S. places

Recorded about once a year in the area

Hurricanes

31% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 91% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 4 years in the area

Tornadoes

14% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 73% of U.S. places

Earthquakes

8% 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 Lumberton flood?

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

756paid claims since 1979

$40.3Mpaid to owners

189homes flooded more than once

19792026

Biggest named events

Hurricane Florence: 404 claims, $22.2M
Hurricane Matthew: 235 claims, $16.2M
Hurricane Floyd: 34 claims, $176K

Homes that flooded again and again

Each house = 4 homes. ■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (22) ■ flooded 2+ times

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

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

Insurance rates: Robeson County.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

216flood-prone properties bought out and cleared

29homes raised above flood level

1flood-prone homes bought out and moved

Disasters that hit Lumberton

8 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into LumbertonDeclared for Robeson County only

2022

Hurricane Ian

$18K to the City of Lumberton for repairs

2019

Hurricane Dorian

$44K to the City of Lumberton for repairs

2018

Hurricane Florence

5,643 households applied for aid $5.1M aid approved $3.3M to the City of Lumberton for repairs

2016

Hurricane Matthew

8,924 households applied for aid $18.2M aid approved $4.6M to the City of Lumberton for repairs

2011

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

363 households applied for aid $86K aid approved $19K to the City of Lumberton for repairs

2004

Tropical Storm Frances

984 households applied for aid $780K aid approved

2003

Hurricane Isabel

735 households applied for aid $305K aid approved

1999

Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations

$1.2M to the City of Lumberton for repairs

Robeson County has had 18 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. Lumberton covers 4 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Lumberton’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Lumberton. 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 Lumberton total about $7.1M 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.