Coastal Flood Risk in North Carolina
All North Carolina counties ranked by FEMA National Risk Index coastal flood score
Coastal Flood risk — seawater inundation from storm surge, high tides, and rising sea levels — is rated for 28 of 100 North Carolina counties in FEMA's National Risk Index. Brunswick County carries the state's highest coastal flood score at 89.4, with $4M in expected annual coastal flood losses.
5 North Carolina counties are rated High or Very High for coastal flood, and expected annual losses from coastal flood total roughly $33M statewide. The full ranking below links to each county's complete 18-hazard risk profile.
County Rankings — Coastal Flood
| # | County | Coastal Flood Score | Rating | Ann. Freq. | Ann. Loss |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brunswick County | High | 3.68 / yr | $4M | |
| 2 | New Hanover County | High | 3.69 / yr | $7M | |
| 3 | Carteret County | High | 3.29 / yr | $4M | |
| 4 | Dare County | High | 2.94 / yr | $4M | |
| 5 | Hyde County | High | 1.66 / yr | $2M | |
| 6 | Beaufort County | Medium | 2.61 / yr | $2M | |
| 7 | Pender County | Medium | 3.54 / yr | $3M | |
| 8 | Onslow County | Medium | 3.26 / yr | $3M | |
| 9 | Tyrrell County | Medium | 0.80 / yr | $635K | |
| 10 | Pasquotank County | Medium | 3.18 / yr | $608K | |
| 11 | Pamlico County | Low | 0.80 / yr | $287K | |
| 12 | Currituck County | Low | 3.22 / yr | $612K | |
| 13 | Craven County | Low | 0.73 / yr | $211K | |
| 14 | Perquimans County | Low | 3.18 / yr | $135K | |
| 15 | Chowan County | Low | 3.37 / yr | $132K | |
| 16 | Camden County | Low | 3.18 / yr | $197K | |
| 17 | Pitt County | Low | 3.18 / yr | $67K | |
| 18 | Washington County | Low | 0.80 / yr | $41K | |
| 19 | Bertie County | Low | 2.69 / yr | $28K | |
| 20 | Gates County | Very Low | 3.63 / yr | $19K | |
| 21 | Hertford County | Very Low | 3.63 / yr | $10K | |
| 22 | Jones County | Very Low | 0.70 / yr | $4K | |
| 23 | Martin County | Very Low | 0.80 / yr | $5K | |
| 24 | Lenoir County | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $2K | |
| 25 | Greene County | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $722 | |
| 26 | Columbus County | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $122 | |
| 27 | Bladen County | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $106 | |
| 28 | Northampton County | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $42 |
28 North Carolina counties with measurable coastal flood risk. See the national coastal flood ranking or all North Carolina counties by overall risk.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which North Carolina county has the highest coastal flood risk?
Brunswick County has the highest FEMA coastal flood risk score in North Carolina at 89.4 (High), with $4M in expected annual losses and about 3.68 events per year.
How many North Carolina counties face significant coastal flood risk?
28 North Carolina counties record measurable coastal flood risk in FEMA's National Risk Index; 5 of them are rated High or Very High.