Natural hazards · Washington

Washington, NC natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Washington comes from hurricanes, and overall the risk is very high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 1,176 claims here since 1982. 10 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Washington?

Very high

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Washington to be higher than in 94% of U.S. communities, mostly from hurricanes.

Hurricanes81%Inland flooding8%Everything else11%

By hazard

What Washington faces

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

Hurricanes

81% 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

8% of expected damage

Well below average · higher than 5% 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 Washington flood?

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

1,176paid claims since 1982

$18.7Mpaid to owners

204homes flooded more than once

19822026

Biggest named events

Hurricane Dennis: 197 claims, $3.9M
Hurricane Florence: 181 claims, $5.3M
Hurricane Irene: 149 claims, $1.9M

Homes that flooded again and again

Each house = 4 homes. ■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (49) ■ flooded 2+ times

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

🏷️ 15% off flood insurance. Washington is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7) for its flood-proofing work.

Insurance rates: Beaufort County.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

252homes raised above flood level

61flood-prone properties bought out and cleared

6flood-prone homes bought out and moved

1buildings retrofitted against wind

Disasters that hit Washington

10 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into WashingtonDeclared for Beaufort County only

2020

Hurricane Isaias

$161K to the City of Washington for repairs

2019

Hurricane Dorian

$324K to the City of Washington for repairs

2018

Hurricane Florence

640 households applied for aid $456K aid approved $882K to the City of Washington for repairs

2016

Hurricane Matthew

452 households applied for aid $461K aid approved $185K to the City of Washington for repairs

2011

Hurricane Irene

1,137 households applied for aid $874K aid approved $1.4M to the City of Washington for repairs

2010

Severe Storms, Flooding, and Straight-Line Winds

242 households applied for aid $381K aid approved

2008

Tropical Storm Hanna

$91K to the City of Washington for repairs

2003

Hurricane Isabel

482 households applied for aid $260K aid approved $283K to the City of Washington for repairs

1999

Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations

$642K to the City of Washington for repairs

1999

Hurricane Dennis

$56K to the City of Washington for repairs

Beaufort County has had 23 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. Washington covers 1 census tract, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Washington’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Washington. 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 Washington total about $5.8M 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.