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Natural Disasters in North Carolina: History & Risk Data

45,599 recorded disaster events across 778 ZIP codes.

State Statistics

45,599
Total Events
$41.6B
Total Damage
2,469
Total Deaths
778
ZIP Codes

Event Timeline

06371274191125451942: 4 events, 0 deaths, $0.0M damage19421950: 43 events, 0 deaths, $1.2M damage1951: 19 events, 0 deaths, $0.5M damage1952: 31 events, 0 deaths, $1.0M damage1953: 32 events, 0 deaths, $2.0M damage1954: 39 events, 0 deaths, $3.5M damage1955: 78 events, 6 deaths, $2.5M damage1956: 50 events, 0 deaths, $1.2M damage19561957: 112 events, 12 deaths, $13.9M damage1958: 40 events, 0 deaths, $0.2M damage1959: 86 events, 0 deaths, $1.2M damage1960: 67 events, 0 deaths, $1.6M damage1961: 77 events, 0 deaths, $3.1M damage1962: 76 events, 2 deaths, $0.6M damage1963: 70 events, 0 deaths, $4.1M damage19631964: 67 events, 0 deaths, $7.9M damage1965: 70 events, 8 deaths, $27.1M damage1966: 101 events, 0 deaths, $6.3M damage1967: 94 events, 0 deaths, $3.4M damage1968: 35 events, 0 deaths, $2.8M damage1969: 57 events, 0 deaths, $2.9M damage1970: 108 events, 0 deaths, $0.3M damage19701971: 69 events, 20 deaths, $29.0M damage1972: 30 events, 0 deaths, $15.2M damage1973: 184 events, 3 deaths, $21.3M damage1974: 120 events, 17 deaths, $46.0M damage1975: 215 events, 0 deaths, $25.3M damage1976: 173 events, 9 deaths, $17.2M damage1977: 169 events, 0 deaths, $15.1M damage19771978: 201 events, 3 deaths, $4.3M damage1979: 111 events, 0 deaths, $5.1M damage1980: 150 events, 0 deaths, $5.3M damage1981: 156 events, 10 deaths, $51.9M damage1982: 226 events, 3 deaths, $3.9M damage1983: 195 events, 0 deaths, $34.1M damage1984: 449 events, 220 deaths, $1674.5M damage19841985: 812 events, 0 deaths, $20.1M damage1986: 336 events, 15 deaths, $6.2M damage1987: 301 events, 0 deaths, $8.5M damage1988: 551 events, 22 deaths, $1962.0M damage1989: 400 events, 31 deaths, $1030.9M damage1990: 537 events, 0 deaths, $7.7M damage1991: 158 events, 0 deaths, $48.9M damage19911992: 379 events, 8 deaths, $54.0M damage1993: 24 events, 0 deaths, $4.2M damage1994: 9 events, 0 deaths, $0.0M damage1995: 15 events, 0 deaths, $22.6M damage1996: 1195 events, 132 deaths, $1505.5M damage1997: 626 events, 41 deaths, $112.2M damage1998: 1886 events, 148 deaths, $615.0M damage19981999: 469 events, 35 deaths, $63.9M damage2000: 983 events, 11 deaths, $19.3M damage2001: 337 events, 6 deaths, $4.1M damage2002: 670 events, 11 deaths, $2356.5M damage2003: 1232 events, 1 deaths, $245.8M damage2004: 993 events, 70 deaths, $2174.5M damage2005: 814 events, 29 deaths, $42.9M damage20052006: 1488 events, 52 deaths, $13.6M damage2007: 1205 events, 49 deaths, $457.9M damage2008: 1796 events, 92 deaths, $316.8M damage2009: 1112 events, 27 deaths, $116.4M damage2010: 1363 events, 173 deaths, $465.9M damage2011: 2545 events, 183 deaths, $2875.3M damage2012: 2225 events, 0 deaths, $155.0M damage20122013: 861 events, 5 deaths, $154.3M damage2014: 1469 events, 31 deaths, $408.7M damage2015: 1365 events, 14 deaths, $158.5M damage2016: 1990 events, 159 deaths, $4439.1M damage2017: 948 events, 17 deaths, $249.1M damage2018: 1562 events, 168 deaths, $5698.4M damage2019: 1249 events, 8 deaths, $577.0M damage20192020: 1371 events, 83 deaths, $150.1M damage2021: 990 events, 43 deaths, $903.2M damage2022: 1084 events, 0 deaths, $25.7M damage2023: 993 events, 4 deaths, $1509.4M damage2024: 2133 events, 450 deaths, $10360.1M damage2025: 1319 events, 38 deaths, $255.4M damage
Events (no fatalities) Events with fatalities

Hazard Breakdown

⛈️hail
26.5K events·0 deaths·$939.7M
Low:25K
Moderate:1.4K
High:78
Severe:80
🌊flood
9K events·916 deaths·$21.7B
Low:3.4K
Moderate:2K
High:1.8K
Severe:1.8K
🌪️tornado
4.8K events·656 deaths·$10.6B
Low:3.2K
Moderate:1.1K
High:324
Severe:122
❄️blizzard
2.4K events·541 deaths·$3.4B
Low:596
Moderate:447
High:414
Severe:970
💨wind
1.6K events·18 deaths·$1.2B
Low:1.4K
Moderate:146
High:29
🥶cold
514 events·145 deaths·$450.3M
Low:201
Moderate:99
High:152
Severe:62
🔥wildfire
289 events·0 deaths·$0
Low:243
Moderate:36
High:10
🌡️heat
190 events·183 deaths·$0
Low:136
High:43
Severe:11
🌀hurricane
143 events·10 deaths·$3.3B
Low:143
🌍earthquake
95 events·0 deaths·$0
Low:86
Moderate:4
High:5

Most Affected ZIP Codes in North Carolina

28655 228 events 28645 219 events 28752 186 events 28792 163 events 27607 152 events 27030 151 events 28451 148 events 28027 144 events 27513 143 events 28479 143 events

📊 North Carolina Disaster Profile

North Carolina has experienced 45,599 documented natural disaster events across its 778 ZIP codes. The cumulative documented property damage stands at $41.6B. A total of 2,469 fatalities have been attributed to natural disasters in the state.

⚠️ Hazard Distribution

Hailstorms lead North Carolina's disaster profile with 26,510 events (58%), causing $939.7M in property damage. Other significant hazards include floods (9,036 events, $21.7B in damages), tornadoes (4,813 events, $10.6B in damages), and blizzards (2,427 events, $3.4B in damages).

📍 Geographic Impact

The most disaster-affected areas in North Carolina include ZIP 28655 (228 events, $121.1M in damages), ZIP 28645 (219 events, $106.9M in damages), and ZIP 28752 (186 events, $469.8M in damages).

📈 Trends Over Time

Disaster frequency in North Carolina has increased markedly over time. The average annual event count in recent decades is roughly 700% higher than in earlier periods of the record. The year 2011 stands out as particularly active, with 2,545 events recorded — likely driven by a major weather system or disaster season.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions — North Carolina

What natural disasters occur in North Carolina?

North Carolina has experienced 45,599 documented natural disaster events. The hazard types recorded include hailstorms (26,510), floods (9,036), tornadoes (4,813), blizzards (2,427), severe wind events (1,582), extreme cold events (514), wildfires (289), extreme heat events (190), hurricanes (143), and earthquakes (95). The most common hazard is hailstorms, accounting for 58% of all events.

What are the most disaster-prone areas in North Carolina?

Based on historical records, the most disaster-affected ZIP codes in North Carolina are ZIP 28655 (228 events), ZIP 28645 (219 events), ZIP 28752 (186 events), ZIP 28792 (163 events), and ZIP 27607 (152 events). These areas have the highest concentration of recorded natural disaster events in the state.

How much damage have natural disasters caused in North Carolina?

Natural disasters have caused a documented $41.6B in property damage across North Carolina. This total is based on records from FEMA, NOAA, and USGS, covering events from the 1950s onward. The actual figure is likely higher, as not all events have complete damage records.

About This Data

State-level data aggregated from FEMA (disaster declarations, NFIP flood claims), NOAA Storm Events Database, USGS Earthquake Hazards Program, and NIFC wildfire records. Historical coverage varies by source, with most records beginning in the 1950s–1970s. Full methodology →

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