Natural Disasters in Chapel Hill, NC
Hazard risk, disaster history, and FEMA data
Natural Hazard Risk
Source: FEMA National Risk IndexRisk Score
79.1
Relatively Low
Expected Annual Loss
83.6
Score (0-100)
Social Vulnerability
16.6
Score (0-100)
Community Resilience
93.6
Score (0-100)
Scores range from 0 (lowest risk) to 100 (highest risk) relative to all U.S. communities. Data from FEMA National Risk Index.
Disaster History & Federal Spending
Source: FEMATotal Declarations
25
Public Assistance
$148.6M
Individual Assistance
$3.0M
Most Common Type
Hurricane
11 declarations
Public Assistance by Category
| Disaster | Type | Date | PA $ | IA $ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Severe Winter Storm → | Winter Storm | Jan 2026 | — | — |
| Tropical Depression Chantal → | Tropical Depression | Sep 2025 | $559K | — |
| Hurricane Helene → | Tropical Storm | Sep 2024 | — | — |
| Tropical Storm Debby → | Tropical Storm | Aug 2024 | — | — |
| Hurricane Ian → | Hurricane | Oct 2022 | — | — |
| Covid-19 Pandemic → | Biological | Mar 2020 | $143.3M | $2.6M |
| Covid-19 → | Biological | Mar 2020 | — | — |
| Hurricane Dorian → | Hurricane | Sep 2019 | — | — |
| Tropical Storm Michael → | Hurricane | Jan 2019 | $128K | — |
| Hurricane Florence → | Hurricane | Sep 2018 | $1.2M | $342K |
| Hurricane Florence → | Hurricane | Sep 2018 | — | — |
| Hurricane Matthew → | Hurricane | Oct 2016 | — | — |
| Severe Winter Storm → | Severe Ice Storm | Mar 2014 | $967K | — |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation → | Hurricane | Sep 2005 | — | — |
| Hurricane Isabel → | Hurricane | Sep 2003 | $276K | $88K |
| Ice Storm → | Severe Ice Storm | Mar 2003 | $988 | — |
| Severe Ice Storm → | Severe Ice Storm | Dec 2002 | $1.8M | — |
| Severe Winter Storm → | Severe Storm | Jan 2000 | $205K | — |
| Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarati… → | Hurricane | Sep 1999 | $203K | — |
| Hurricane Floyd Emergency Declarations → | Hurricane | Sep 1999 | — | — |
Showing 20 of 27 disasters
PA = FEMA Public Assistance (infrastructure recovery). IA = Individual Assistance (homeowner/renter aid).
Flood Insurance (NFIP)
Source: FEMA NFIPTotal Claims
568
Total Claims Paid
$34,679,760
Avg Claim Payout
$61,056
County-level NFIP data from FEMA National Flood Insurance Program.
Hazard Mitigation
Source: FEMA Hazard Mitigation AssistanceMitigation Projects
8
Federal Funding
$1,323,637
Properties Protected
6
Avg Benefit-Cost Ratio
0.98
BCR
Top Mitigation Project Types
| Project Type | Projects | Federal $ |
|---|---|---|
| 200.1: Acquisition of Private Real Property (Structures and Land) - Riverine | 3 | $680,219 |
| 601.1: Generators | 2 | $67,709 |
| 202.1: Elevation of Private Structures - Riverine | 1 | $236,660 |
| 200.3: Acquisition of Public Real Property (Structures and Land) - Riverine | 1 | $0 |
| 92.1: State Multihazard Mitigation Plan | 1 | $339,049 |
Federally funded projects to reduce future disaster risk. Only includes completed or obligated projects.
Chapel Hill has a relatively low overall natural hazard risk rating according to FEMA's National Risk Index. The top hazard risks are winter weather, lightning, heat wave. The area has had 25 federal disaster declarations. The most common disaster type is hurricane (11 declarations). 568 flood insurance claims have been filed in the area. FEMA has obligated $148,597,568 in public assistance recovery funding. $3,041,323 has been distributed in individual assistance to disaster-affected residents. 8 hazard mitigation projects have been funded to reduce future risk.