Natural Disasters in North Topsail Beach, NC

Hazard risk, disaster history, and FEMA data

Natural Hazard Risk

Source: FEMA National Risk Index

Risk Score

95.0

Relatively High

Expected Annual Loss

96.3

Score (0-100)

Social Vulnerability

14.4

Score (0-100)

Community Resilience

40.6

Score (0-100)

Top Hazard Risks

Hurricane99.0Winter Weather98.4Lightning92.4
HazardRisk Score
Hurricane99.0
Winter Weather98.4
Lightning92.4
Heat Wave87.5
Wildfire85.9
Tornado85.8
Coastal Flood81.0
Strong Wind80.6
Ice Storm76.4
Earthquake66.7
Cold Wave60.4
Hail44.4
Landslide38.6
Drought34.6

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 OpenFEMA

Total Declarations

30

Most Recent

Winter Storm

Jan 2026

Most Common Type

Hurricane

22 declarations

DateTypeDeclaration
Jan 24, 2026Winter StormSEVERE WINTER STORM
Oct 19, 2024Tropical StormPOTENTIAL TROPICAL CYCLONE EIGHT
Sep 26, 2024Tropical StormHURRICANE HELENE
Aug 6, 2024Tropical StormTROPICAL STORM DEBBY
Oct 1, 2022HurricaneHURRICANE IAN
Oct 14, 2020HurricaneHURRICANE ISAIAS
Aug 2, 2020HurricaneHURRICANE ISAIAS
Mar 25, 2020BiologicalCOVID-19 PANDEMIC
Mar 13, 2020BiologicalCOVID-19
Oct 4, 2019HurricaneHURRICANE DORIAN
Sep 3, 2019HurricaneHURRICANE DORIAN
Sep 14, 2018HurricaneHURRICANE FLORENCE
Sep 10, 2018HurricaneHURRICANE FLORENCE
Oct 10, 2016HurricaneHURRICANE MATTHEW
Oct 7, 2016HurricaneHURRICANE MATTHEW
Aug 31, 2011HurricaneHURRICANE IRENE
Aug 25, 2011HurricaneHURRICANE IRENE
Apr 19, 2011Severe StormSEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES, AND FLOODING
Oct 14, 2010Severe StormSEVERE STORMS, FLOODING, AND STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS
Sep 1, 2010HurricaneHURRICANE EARL

Showing 20 of 30 declarations

Flood Insurance (NFIP)

Source: FEMA NFIP

Total Claims

4,432

Total Claims Paid

$70,709,505

Avg Claim Payout

$15,954

County-level NFIP data from FEMA National Flood Insurance Program.

Disaster Recovery Spending

Source: FEMA Public Assistance

Total Federal Spending

$75,954,517

Disasters with PA

14

Total Projects

400

DisasterTypeProjectsFederal $
DR-4393Hurricane147$51,330,848
DR-1292Hurricane85$7,249,603
DR-4285Hurricane18$6,487,394
DR-4019Hurricane51$3,119,260
DR-4465Hurricane17$2,212,189
DR-4568Hurricane14$1,404,258
DR-3254Hurricane9$1,302,861
DR-4487Biological5$1,177,197
DR-1490Hurricane18$620,890
DR-1608Hurricane17$522,012
DR-1969Severe Storm(s)8$384,542
DR-3141Hurricane7$91,176
DR-3586Hurricane2$39,437
DR-3314Hurricane2$12,850

Hazard Mitigation

Source: FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance

Mitigation Projects

18

Federal Funding

$603,916

Properties Protected

9

Avg Benefit-Cost Ratio

2.49

BCR

Top Mitigation Project Types

Project TypeProjectsFederal $
200.1: Acquisition of Private Real Property (Structures and Land) - Riverine8$208,196
200.2: Acquisition of Private Real Property (Structures and Land) - Coastal2$250,880
202.1: Elevation of Private Structures - Riverine1$0
202.4: Elevation of Public Structures - Coastal1$0
202.2: Elevation of Private Structures - Coastal1$0

Federally funded projects to reduce future disaster risk. Only includes completed or obligated projects.

North Topsail Beach has a relatively high overall natural hazard risk rating according to FEMA's National Risk Index. The top hazard risks are hurricane, winter weather, lightning. The area has had 30 federal disaster declarations. The most common disaster type is hurricane (22 declarations). 4,432 flood insurance claims have been filed in the area. FEMA has obligated $75,954,517 in public assistance recovery funding. 18 hazard mitigation projects have been funded to reduce future risk.