Natural hazards · Williamston

Williamston, NC natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Williamston comes from hurricanes, and overall the risk is very high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 12 claims here since 1978. 6 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Williamston?

Very high

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Williamston to be higher than in 82% of U.S. communities, mostly from hurricanes and inland flooding.

Hurricanes55%Inland flooding30%Tornadoes7%Everything else8%

By hazard

What Williamston faces

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

Hurricanes

55% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 95% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 3 years in the area

Inland flooding

30% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 53% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 2 years in the area

Tornadoes

7% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 72% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 77 years in the area

Lower here

Coastal floodingHailIce 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 Williamston flood?

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

12paid claims since 1978

$273Kpaid to owners

1homes flooded more than once

19782026

Biggest named events

Hurricane Matthew: 2 claims, $146K
Hurricane Floyd: 1 claim, $12K

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. Williamston isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Martin County.

Disasters that hit Williamston

6 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into WilliamstonDeclared for Martin County only

2016

Hurricane Matthew

88 households applied for aid $56K aid approved $97K to the Town of Williamston for repairs

2011

Hurricane Irene

367 households applied for aid $130K aid approved $174K to the Town of Williamston for repairs

2010

Severe Storms, Flooding, and Straight-Line Winds

42 households applied for aid $48K aid approved

2005

Hurricane Ophelia

$3K to the Town of Williamston for repairs

2003

Hurricane Isabel

512 households applied for aid $451K aid approved $121K to the Town of Williamston for repairs

1999

Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations

$343K to the Town of Williamston for repairs

Martin County has had 18 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. Williamston is smaller than a census tract, so it shares the figures of the tract around its center.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Williamston’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the Town of Williamston. FEMA’s model follows property values, so a place that recently lost many homes can rate lower than it feels.

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.