Natural hazards · Surf

Surf, NC natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Surf comes from hurricanes, and overall the risk is very high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 1,490 claims here since 1983. 11 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Surf?

Very high

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Surf to be higher than in 96% of U.S. communities, mostly from hurricanes.

Hurricanes69%Inland flooding14%Everything else17%

By hazard

What Surf faces

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

Hurricanes

69% 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

14% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 42% of U.S. places

Recorded about 2 times 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 Surf flood?

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

1,490paid claims since 1983

$21.0Mpaid to owners

243homes flooded more than once

19832026

Biggest named events

Hurricane Fran: 527 claims, $11.2M
Hurricane Florence: 346 claims, $4.9M
Hurricane Floyd: 326 claims, $3.2M

Homes that flooded again and again

Each house = 5 homes. ■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (22) ■ flooded 2+ times

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

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

Insurance rates: Pender County.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

7flood-prone properties bought out and cleared

5homes raised above flood level

Disasters that hit Surf

11 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into SurfDeclared for Pender County only

2022

Hurricane Ian

$12K to the Town of Surf for repairs

2020

Hurricane Isaias

$27K to the Town of Surf for repairs

2019

Hurricane Dorian

$31K to the Town of Surf for repairs

2018

Hurricane Florence

318 households applied for aid $186K aid approved $9.8M to the Town of Surf for repairs

2016

Hurricane Matthew

5 households applied for aid

2011

Hurricane Irene

4 households applied for aid $19K to the Town of Surf for repairs

2010

Severe Storms, Flooding, and Straight-Line Winds

3 households applied for aid $5K aid approved

2005

Hurricane Ophelia

$664K to the Town of Surf for repairs

2003

Hurricane Isabel

1 household applied for aid

1999

Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations

$1.7M to the Town of Surf for repairs

1999

Hurricane Dennis

$9K to the Town of Surf for repairs

Pender County has had 22 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often hurricanes and winter storms.

Around Surf

Surf and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

North Topsail Beachmostly hurricanesVery high

Topsail Beachmostly hurricanesVery high

Surf Citymostly hurricanesVery high

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. Surf covers 1 census tract, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Surf’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the Town of Surf. 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 Surf total about $1.5M 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.