Natural Disasters in Carolina Beach, NC
Hazard risk, disaster history, and FEMA data
Natural Hazard Risk
Source: FEMA National Risk IndexRisk Score
96.1
Relatively High
Expected Annual Loss
96.8
Score (0-100)
Social Vulnerability
19.0
Score (0-100)
Community Resilience
90.2
Score (0-100)
Top Hazard Risks
| Hazard | Risk Score |
|---|---|
| Hurricane | 99.1 |
| Lightning | 97.7 |
| Winter Weather | 96.1 |
| Ice Storm | 90.7 |
| Tornado | 90.4 |
| Coastal Flood | 89.2 |
| Heat Wave | 85.6 |
| Wildfire | 83.0 |
| Earthquake | 81.0 |
| Cold Wave | 67.2 |
| Strong Wind | 54.6 |
| Hail | 21.1 |
| Drought | 19.2 |
| Landslide | 19.0 |
Scores range from 0 (lowest risk) to 100 (highest risk) relative to all U.S. communities. Data from FEMA National Risk Index.
Disaster Declarations
Source: FEMA OpenFEMATotal Declarations
30
Most Recent
Winter Storm
Jan 2026
Most Common Type
Hurricane
22 declarations
| Date | Type | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | SEVERE WINTER STORM |
| Oct 19, 2024 | Tropical Storm | POTENTIAL TROPICAL CYCLONE EIGHT |
| Aug 6, 2024 | Tropical Storm | TROPICAL STORM DEBBY |
| Oct 1, 2022 | Hurricane | HURRICANE IAN |
| Oct 14, 2020 | Hurricane | HURRICANE ISAIAS |
| Mar 25, 2020 | Biological | COVID-19 PANDEMIC |
| Mar 13, 2020 | Biological | COVID-19 |
| Oct 4, 2019 | Hurricane | HURRICANE DORIAN |
| Sep 3, 2019 | Hurricane | HURRICANE DORIAN |
| Sep 14, 2018 | Hurricane | HURRICANE FLORENCE |
| Sep 10, 2018 | Hurricane | HURRICANE FLORENCE |
| Oct 10, 2016 | Hurricane | HURRICANE MATTHEW |
| Oct 7, 2016 | Hurricane | HURRICANE MATTHEW |
| Aug 31, 2011 | Hurricane | HURRICANE IRENE |
| Aug 25, 2011 | Hurricane | HURRICANE IRENE |
| Oct 14, 2010 | Severe Storm | SEVERE STORMS, FLOODING, AND STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS |
| Sep 1, 2010 | Hurricane | HURRICANE EARL |
| Oct 8, 2008 | Severe Storm | TROPICAL STORM HANNA |
| Oct 7, 2005 | Hurricane | HURRICANE OPHELIA |
| Sep 14, 2005 | Hurricane | HURRICANE OPHELIA |
Showing 20 of 30 declarations
Flood Insurance (NFIP)
Source: FEMA NFIPTotal Claims
11,178
Total Claims Paid
$187,446,810
Avg Claim Payout
$16,769
County-level NFIP data from FEMA National Flood Insurance Program.
Disaster Recovery Spending
Source: FEMA Public AssistanceTotal Federal Spending
$92,109,298
Disasters with PA
13
Total Projects
557
| Disaster | Type | Projects | Federal $ |
|---|---|---|---|
| DR-4393 | Hurricane | 183 | $62,402,099 |
| DR-1292 | Hurricane | 128 | $9,997,890 |
| DR-4568 | Hurricane | 38 | $7,762,255 |
| DR-4285 | Hurricane | 27 | $3,752,068 |
| DR-4465 | Hurricane | 27 | $1,891,111 |
| DR-4019 | Hurricane | 48 | $1,613,559 |
| DR-4837 | Tropical Storm | 20 | $927,528 |
| DR-1608 | Hurricane | 20 | $914,603 |
| DR-3254 | Hurricane | 8 | $823,781 |
| DR-1801 | Severe Storm(s) | 18 | $688,280 |
| DR-1490 | Hurricane | 16 | $611,625 |
| DR-3141 | Hurricane | 18 | $500,731 |
| DR-4487 | Biological | 6 | $223,767 |
Carolina Beach has a relatively high overall natural hazard risk rating according to FEMA's National Risk Index. The top hazard risks are hurricane, lightning, winter weather. The area has had 30 federal disaster declarations. The most common disaster type is hurricane (22 declarations). 11,178 flood insurance claims have been filed in the area. FEMA has obligated $92,109,298 in public assistance recovery funding.