Sunbury, NC (ZIP 27979) has a moderate disaster history with 21 recorded events. These include 11 hailstorms, 5 floods, and 3 tornadoes. Total documented property damage amounts to $8.1M. These events have resulted in 3 recorded deaths and 15 injuries.
The dominant hazard type for Sunbury is hailstorms, with 11 recorded events making up 52% of the area's disaster history. Hail-related events have caused a combined $10K in documented property damage. The most recent recorded hailstorm occurred on Jun 11, 2025.
Sunbury has experienced 5 floods on record. Of these, 4 (80%) were rated at severity level 4 or 5 — the most intense on the normalized scale. The highest recorded severity for flood-related events here is 5/5 (extreme). Flood-related events have caused a combined $1.6M in documented property damage. 1 fatality has been attributed to floods in this area. The most recent recorded flood occurred on Oct 8, 2016.
Sunbury has experienced 3 tornadoes on record. Of these, 2 (67%) were rated at severity level 4 or 5 — the most intense on the normalized scale. The highest recorded severity for tornado-related events here is 4/5 (severe). Tornado-related events have caused a combined $6.5M in documented property damage. 2 fatalities have been attributed to tornadoes in this area. The most recent recorded tornado occurred on Aug 4, 2020.
Sunbury has experienced 1 blizzard on record. Winter storm events have caused a combined $1K in documented property damage. The most recent recorded blizzard occurred on Feb 19, 2025.
Sunbury has experienced 1 severe wind event on record. Wind-related events have caused a combined $2K in documented property damage. The most recent recorded severe wind event occurred on Jan 7, 2009.
The most significant disaster event on record for Sunbury was EF1 Tornado on Aug 4, 2020, which caused $4M in property damage. Another major event was EF3 Tornado (Mar 28, 1984), causing $2.5M in damages.
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Based on federal and state records, ZIP code 27979 has experienced 21 natural disaster events. The hazard types affecting this area include hailstorms (11 events), floods (5 events), tornadoes (3 events), blizzard (1 event), and severe wind event (1 event). The primary hazard is hailstorms, which account for 52% of all recorded events.
Hailstorms are the most frequently recorded hazard in Sunbury, NC, with 11 events documented. These events have caused a combined $10K in property damage.
Yes, Sunbury (ZIP 27979) has 5 recorded flood events. These floods have caused $1.6M in total property damage. The most recent flood on record occurred on Oct 8, 2016.
Sunbury has 3 recorded tornado events in the historical record. The strongest tornado recorded reached severity level 4/5 on the normalized scale. Total property damage from tornadoes in this area is $6.5M. The most recent tornado was recorded on Aug 4, 2020.
The most damaging natural disaster on record for ZIP code 27979 was EF1 Tornado, which occurred on Aug 4, 2020. This event caused $4M in documented property damage. It was rated at severity level 2/5.
Natural disasters have caused a documented total of $8.1M in property damage in the Sunbury, NC area (ZIP 27979). This figure is based on historical records from FEMA, NOAA Storm Events Database, and USGS, and covers events from the 1950s through the present. Actual damages may be higher, as not all events have complete damage assessments.
Data sourced 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 →