Greene County, North Carolina
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Greene County, North Carolina has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 63% of US counties. It ranks 65th of 100 counties in North Carolina. The costliest hazards here are hurricanes, inland flooding and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $14 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $702 per resident. Since 1968 it has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (12 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (65 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $2.5 million on 82 claims here, including $1.6 million for floods in 2016.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Greene County
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hurricane | 92.9 | $8M | ||
| Inland flooding | 39.5 | $3M | ||
| Tornado | 59.0 | $1M | ||
| Drought | 76.9 | $484K | ||
| Heat wave | 56.7 | $318K | ||
| Cold wave | 31.1 | $280K | ||
| Strong wind | 41.0 | $268K | ||
| Hail | 59.6 | $236K | ||
| Winter weather | 84.2 | $164K | ||
| Earthquake | 47.2 | $150K | ||
| Lightning | 42.4 | $111K | ||
| Ice storm | 41.0 | $35K | ||
| Wildfire | 29.4 | $9K | ||
| Coastal flooding | 23.2 | $722 | ||
| Landslide | 10.1 | $18 |
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 very low in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Greene County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 25
North Carolina also had 22 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1957
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 214 storm reports in Greene County since 1957, with 8 deaths and 64 injuries and about $57.9 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on March 28, 1984.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 28, 1984 | F4 | – | 0 / 7 |
| Apr 16, 2011 | EF3 | Jason | 60 / 0 |
| Mar 4, 1977 | F3 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Feb 18, 2008 | EF2 | Hookerton | 3 / 0 |
| Apr 15, 1996 | F2 | Ormandsville | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 16, 2011 | Tornado | Jason | $30M |
| Mar 28, 1984 | Tornado | – | $25M |
| Jan 14, 2006 | Tornado | Snow Hill | $750K |
| Feb 18, 2008 | Tornado | Hookerton | $500K |
| Aug 16, 1966 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Mar 4, 1977 | Tornado | – | $250K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 10, 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, 17 hurricanes and 45 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Greene County, 29 of them since 1950. The strongest was Hurricane Donna (1960), with top winds near 105 mph about 65 miles away.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 12, 1960 | Donna | Category 2, 105 mph | 65 mi |
| Oct 23, 1878 | Unnamed | Category 2, 105 mph | 57 mi |
| Aug 27, 1998 | Bonnie | Category 2, 95 mph | 65 mi |
| Sep 18, 2003 | Isabel | Category 1, 95 mph | 60 mi |
| Sep 19, 1955 | Ione | Category 1, 95 mph | 63 mi |
| Sep 16, 1999 | Floyd | Category 1, 90 mph | 53 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 23, 2023 | Ophelia | Tropical storm, 70 mph | 63 mi |
| Jul 8, 2021 | Elsa | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 61 mi |
| Jun 21, 2021 | Claudette | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 60 mi |
| Aug 4, 2020 | Isaias | Tropical storm, 70 mph | 54 mi |
| Sep 3, 2016 | Hermine | Tropical storm, 65 mph | 62 mi |
| Sep 6, 2008 | Hanna | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 65 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 Greene 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 Greene 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; 7,939 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Pitt County | 28 | |
| Wayne County | 26 | |
| Wilson County | 26 | |
| Lenoir County | 27 |
Common questions about Greene County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Greene County?
Hurricane has the highest expected yearly losses in Greene County, about $8.2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $3 million.
How many federal disasters has Greene County had?
Greene County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1968, including 12 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.
Is Greene County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 65th 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 Greene County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 143 homes in Greene County has federal flood insurance. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.
How many tornadoes has Greene County had?
NOAA records list 18 tornadoes in Greene County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on March 28, 1984. The weather service has also logged 48 hail reports and 35 floods here.
How many hurricanes have hit Greene County?
NOAA's hurricane records show 17 hurricanes and 45 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Greene County. The strongest was Hurricane Donna (1960), with winds near 105 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.