Anson County, North Carolina
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Anson County, North Carolina has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 50% of US counties. It ranks 76th of 100 counties in North Carolina. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, hurricanes and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $10 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $464 per resident. Since 1977 it has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (9 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). Only 5 homes here carry federal flood insurance.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Anson County
- Check the FEMA flood map for your address, and ask the seller or landlord about past flooding.
- Price a flood policy now. Most new federal policies take 30 days to start.
- Know your evacuation zone and route before June 1.
- Ask about roof age, shutters and the separate wind or hurricane deductible on your home policy.
- Pick a shelter spot: a basement, or an inside room on the lowest floor with no windows.
- Turn on emergency alerts on your phone and keep a weather radio.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 51.3 | $4M | ||
| Hurricane | 82.9 | $2M | ||
| Tornado | 71.9 | $2M | ||
| Strong wind | 72.3 | $653K | ||
| Cold wave | 45.2 | $498K | ||
| Earthquake | 64.8 | $378K | ||
| Heat wave | 48.1 | $216K | ||
| Ice storm | 75.5 | $188K | ||
| Lightning | 41.0 | $105K | ||
| Drought | 50.9 | $98K | ||
| Hail | 36.3 | $97K | ||
| Wildfire | 58.5 | $48K | ||
| Winter weather | 31.3 | $20K | ||
| Landslide | 34.2 | $268 |
Scores are percentiles: a score of 90 means higher risk than about 90% of US counties for that hazard. Hazards FEMA does not rate here are left out. Social vulnerability is very high and community resilience is relatively low in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Anson County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 20
North Carolina also had 22 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1958
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 298 storm reports in Anson County since 1958, with 2 deaths and 7 injuries and about $42.7 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF2 tornado on April 13, 2020 near Morven.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 13, 2020 | EF2 | Morven | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 31, 2022 | EF2 | Burnsville | 0 / 0 |
| May 15, 1976 | F2 | – | 4 / 0 |
| Apr 13, 2020 | EF1 | Mc Farlan | 0 / 0 |
| May 5, 1989 | F1 | – | 1 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 17, 2018 | Flood | Long Pine | $36M |
| Apr 13, 2020 | Tornado | Mc Farlan | $3M |
| May 5, 1989 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Apr 13, 2020 | Tornado | Morven | $600K |
| Mar 31, 2022 | Tornado | Burnsville | $500K |
| Jun 26, 2010 | Lightning | Mc Farlan | $75K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 6, 2026. Tornado records start in 1950, hail and wind in 1955, and floods and other storm types in 1996, so older decades undercount. Damage is in dollars of the year it happened and is often an estimate. Winter storms, heat and hurricanes are logged by forecast zone, not county, so they are not counted here.
Hurricanes and tropical storms
Hurricane risk by county ›Since 1851, 3 hurricanes and 32 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Anson County, 11 of them since 1950. The strongest was Hurricane Hugo (1989), with top winds near 85 mph about 60 miles away.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 22, 1989 | Hugo | Category 1, 85 mph | 60 mi |
| Sep 29, 1896 | Unnamed | Category 1, 85 mph | 33 mi |
| Aug 28, 1893 | Unnamed | Category 1, 85 mph | 60 mi |
| Sep 14, 1904 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 70 mph | 57 mi |
| Sep 12, 1878 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 65 mph | 39 mi |
| Sep 5, 1979 | David | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 65 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 8, 2021 | Elsa | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 53 mi |
| Jun 21, 2021 | Claudette | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 57 mi |
| Oct 11, 2018 | Michael | Tropical storm, 55 mph | 60 mi |
| Sep 23, 2000 | Helene | Tropical storm, 35 mph | 63 mi |
| Sep 22, 1989 | Hugo | Category 1, 85 mph | 60 mi |
| Jul 25, 1985 | Bob | Tropical storm, 55 mph | 62 mi |
Source: NOAA National Hurricane Center best-track records (HURDAT2), 1851 to 2025 for the Atlantic and 1949 to 2025 for the eastern Pacific. A storm counts if its track passed within 65 miles of the county's center while it was a tropical storm or hurricane. Strength is the storm's top sustained wind at that point, not the wind measured in the county. Older storms over the open sea were sometimes missed.
Flood insurance in Anson County
Check your address flood zone ›National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) records only; private flood policies are not included. Home counts as of Aug 3, 2026. Since 2021 NFIP prices each home separately under Risk Rating 2.0, so your price depends on the building, not the county. Ask an agent for a quote.
Homes in Anson County
Older homes and mobile homes usually suffer more damage in storms, floods and earthquakes, and can cost more to insure. If you are buying, ask about roof age, foundation bolting and any retrofits. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 5-year estimates; 9,954 housing units.
Compare in North Carolina
All 100 ›| Largest counties | Overall risk | Top hazard |
|---|---|---|
| Wake County | Inland flooding | |
| Mecklenburg County | Inland flooding | |
| Guilford County | Inland flooding | |
| Forsyth County | Inland flooding | |
| Cumberland County | Inland flooding | |
| Durham County | Inland flooding | |
| Buncombe County | Inland flooding | |
| Union County | Inland flooding |
Neighboring counties
| County | Overall risk | Declarations |
|---|---|---|
| Union County | 19 | |
| Stanly County | 19 | |
| Chesterfield County, SC | 24 | |
| Richmond County | 18 | |
| Marlboro County, SC | 24 | |
| Montgomery County | 22 |
Common questions about Anson County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Anson County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Anson County, about $4.3 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Hurricane is second at $1.9 million.
How many federal disasters has Anson County had?
Anson County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1977, including 9 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.
Is Anson County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 76th highest of 100 in North Carolina. A county rating covers the whole area. Risk at one address can be much higher or lower, so check the FEMA flood map and ask about the home's history.
Do I need flood insurance in Anson County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.
How many tornadoes has Anson County had?
NOAA records list 7 tornadoes in Anson County since 1950. The strongest was an EF2 tornado on April 13, 2020 near Morven. The weather service has also logged 53 hail reports and 44 floods here.
How many hurricanes have hit Anson County?
NOAA's hurricane records show 3 hurricanes and 32 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Anson County. The strongest was Hurricane Hugo (1989), with winds near 85 mph.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025), OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, and NFIP policy and claims data. Hazard Compass is independent and not affiliated with FEMA. These figures describe the whole county, not a single property, and are not insurance or safety advice. Report a problem.