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Hoke County, North Carolina

Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.

Relatively Low overall risk
75th of 100highest risk in North Carolina
$13Mexpected losses a year
18federal declarations
1 in 200homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Hoke 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 75th of 100 counties in North Carolina. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, hurricanes and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $13 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $251 per resident. Since 1996 it has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (8 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (103 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $616,000 on 39 claims here.

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.

Top risks in Hoke County

$4.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • 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.

Hurricane

Moderate
$2.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 5 years.
  • 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.

Tornado

Moderate
$2.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 5 years.
  • 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow43.3
$4M
HurricaneModerate84.0
$3M
TornadoModerate75.8
$3M
Heat waveLow73.1
$844K
Cold waveLow45.1
$633K
Strong windModerate54.3
$500K
EarthquakeLow64.9
$484K
WildfireLow80.2
$333K
LightningLow55.9
$232K
Ice stormModerate66.5
$146K
HailLow36.9
$128K
Winter weatherModerate68.3
$98K
DroughtLow44.0
$76K
LandslideVery Low19.4
$88

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 relatively 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 Hoke County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Hurricane13
Severe Storm2
Tropical Storm2
Winter Storm1

Most recent

Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
Sep 26, 2024Hurricane HeleneEmergency
Aug 6, 2024Tropical Storm DebbyEmergency
Oct 1, 2022Hurricane IanEmergency
Aug 2, 2020Hurricane IsaiasEmergency
Oct 4, 2019Hurricane DorianMajor disaster
Sep 3, 2019Hurricane DorianEmergency
Sep 14, 2018Hurricane FlorenceMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2018Hurricane FlorenceEmergency
Oct 10, 2016Hurricane MatthewMajor disaster
Show all 18
Oct 7, 2016Hurricane MatthewEmergency
Apr 19, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 5, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Sep 10, 2004Tropical Storm FrancesMajor disaster
Jan 31, 2000Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Sep 16, 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster DeclarationsMajor disaster
Sep 15, 1999Hurricane Floyd Emergency DeclarationsEmergency
Sep 6, 1996Hurricane FranMajor disaster

North Carolina also had 22 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1960

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 233 storm reports in Hoke County since 1960, with 1 death and 11 injuries and about $36.5 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on February 11, 1981.

11tornadoes
58hail reports, largest 1.75 inches
133damaging thunderstorm winds
25floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Feb 11, 1981F2–0 / 1
May 19, 1986F2–5 / 0
May 19, 1995F1–1 / 0
May 21, 2020EF1Raeford Muni Arpt0 / 0
Mar 24, 1975F1–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Sep 17, 2018FloodEdenburg$31M
Oct 8, 2016Flash FloodAshmont$3M
Sep 29, 2016Flash FloodRockfish$1M
May 16, 2010Thunderstorm WindRaeford Muni Arpt$300K
Feb 11, 1981Tornado–$250K
May 19, 1986Tornado–$250K

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, 8 hurricanes and 37 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Hoke County, 15 of them since 1950. The strongest was Hurricane Hazel (1954), with top winds near 120 mph about 51 miles away.

8hurricanes
1major hurricanes (Category 3+)
37tropical storms
2025most recent: Chantal

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 15, 1954HazelCategory 3, 120 mph51 mi
Oct 13, 1893UnnamedCategory 2, 100 mph51 mi
Sep 6, 1996FranCategory 1, 95 mph60 mi
Oct 31, 1899UnnamedCategory 1, 95 mph58 mi
Sep 29, 1896UnnamedCategory 1, 85 mph49 mi
Sep 11, 1883UnnamedCategory 1, 80 mph64 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Jul 6, 2025ChantalTropical storm, 35 mph62 mi
Jul 8, 2021ElsaTropical storm, 50 mph36 mi
Jun 21, 2021ClaudetteTropical storm, 45 mph8 mi
Aug 4, 2020IsaiasCategory 1, 75 mph63 mi
Oct 11, 2018MichaelTropical storm, 55 mph61 mi
Sep 6, 2008HannaTropical storm, 65 mph58 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 Hoke County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.5%of homes have federal flood insurance (103 policies)
41.7%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$615,585paid on 39 flood claims since 1978
2016costliest year, with $333,954 paid

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 Hoke County

$219,300median home value (North Carolina $288,900, US $332,700)
2000median year homes were built (North Carolina 1991, US 1980)
22%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
20.6%of homes are mobile homes, which are the least safe in tornadoes and high winds

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; 20,921 housing units.

Compare in North Carolina

All 100 ›
Largest countiesOverall riskTop hazard
Wake CountyHighInland flooding
Mecklenburg CountyHighInland flooding
Guilford CountyModerateInland flooding
Forsyth CountyModerateInland flooding
Cumberland CountyModerateInland flooding
Durham CountyModerateInland flooding
Buncombe CountyModerateInland flooding
Union CountyModerateInland flooding

Neighboring counties

CountyOverall riskDeclarations
Cumberland CountyModerate21
Robeson CountyModerate22
Moore CountyLow21
Richmond CountyLow18
Scotland CountyLow17

Common questions about Hoke County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Hoke County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Hoke County, about $4.4 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Hurricane is second at $2.6 million.

How many federal disasters has Hoke County had?

Hoke County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1996, including 8 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is Hoke County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 75th 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 Hoke County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 200 homes in Hoke 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 Hoke County had?

NOAA records list 11 tornadoes in Hoke County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on February 11, 1981. The weather service has also logged 58 hail reports and 25 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Hoke County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 8 hurricanes and 37 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Hoke County, including 1 major hurricane (Category 3 or stronger). The strongest was Hurricane Hazel (1954), with winds near 120 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.