Natural hazards · River Bend

River Bend, NC natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in River Bend comes from hurricanes, and overall the risk is very high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 752 claims here since 1982. 9 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is River Bend?

Very high

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in River Bend to be higher than in 99% of U.S. communities, mostly from hurricanes and inland flooding.

Hurricanes66%Inland flooding25%Everything else10%

By hazard

What River Bend faces

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

Hurricanes

66% of expected damage

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

Recorded about once every 3 years in the area

Inland flooding

25% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 88% of U.S. places

Recorded about once a year in the area

Lower here

Coastal floodingTornadoesHailIce stormsWinter weatherCold wavesHeat wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesStrong windLightningDrought

Not a risk here

AvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic 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 River Bend flood?

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

752paid claims since 1982

$42.4Mpaid to owners

154homes flooded more than once

19822026

Biggest named events

Hurricane Florence: 364 claims, $38.1M
Hurricane Irene: 154 claims, $2.5M
Hurricane Fran: 138 claims, $1.1M

Homes that flooded again and again

Each house = 3 homes. ■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (15) ■ flooded 2+ times

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

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

Insurance rates: Craven County.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

1homes raised above flood level

Disasters that hit River Bend

9 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into River BendDeclared for Craven County only

2020

Hurricane Isaias

$18K to the Town of River Bend for repairs

2019

Hurricane Dorian

$16K to the Town of River Bend for repairs

2018

Hurricane Florence

1 household applied for aid $772K to the Town of River Bend for repairs

2016

Hurricane Matthew

$13K to the Town of River Bend for repairs

2011

Hurricane Irene

$138K to the Town of River Bend for repairs

2005

Hurricane Ophelia

$18K to the Town of River Bend for repairs

2003

Hurricane Isabel

$38K to the Town of River Bend for repairs

1999

Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations

$19K to the Town of River Bend for repairs

1999

Hurricane Dennis

$6K to the Town of River Bend for repairs

Craven County has had 22 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. River Bend covers 1 census tract, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to River Bend’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the Town of River Bend. 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 River Bend total about $3.3M 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.