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Randolph County, North Carolina

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

Relatively Low overall risk
33rd of 100highest risk in North Carolina
$39Mexpected losses a year
22federal declarations
1 in 500homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Randolph County, North Carolina has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 81% of US counties. It ranks 33rd of 100 counties in North Carolina. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and hurricanes. FEMA estimates about $39 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $274 per resident. Since 1977 it has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (11 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (108 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $395,000 on 65 claims here.

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

Top risks in Randolph County

$23.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times 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.

Tornado

Moderate
$5.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 3 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.

Hurricane

Moderate
$3.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 10 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingModerate84.8
$23M
TornadoModerate87.4
$5M
HurricaneModerate84.3
$3M
Cold waveModerate75.1
$2M
EarthquakeLow78.0
$1M
Ice stormHigh89.5
$800K
Heat waveLow65.2
$670K
Strong windModerate58.5
$633K
HailModerate74.6
$624K
LightningModerate69.2
$439K
DroughtLow62.9
$307K
Winter weatherHigh86.4
$275K
WildfireVery Low40.3
$24K
LandslideLow65.9
$4K

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 moderate 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 Randolph County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Hurricane12
Snowstorm2
Severe Storm2
Severe Ice Storm2
Tropical Storm2
Drought1

Most recent

Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
Sep 26, 2024Hurricane HeleneEmergency
Aug 6, 2024Tropical Storm DebbyEmergency
Oct 1, 2022Hurricane IanEmergency
Aug 2, 2020Hurricane IsaiasEmergency
May 8, 2020Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 3, 2019Hurricane DorianEmergency
Jan 31, 2019Tropical Storm MichaelMajor disaster
Sep 14, 2018Hurricane FlorenceMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2018Hurricane FlorenceEmergency
Show all 22
Oct 7, 2016Hurricane MatthewEmergency
Mar 31, 2014Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Sep 5, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Sep 18, 2004Hurricane IvanMajor disaster
Dec 12, 2002Severe Ice StormMajor 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
Feb 23, 1996Winter StormMajor disaster
Jan 13, 1996Blizzard of 96Major disaster
Aug 11, 1977DroughtEmergency

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

Storm history since 1954

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 631 storm reports in Randolph County since 1954, with 1 death and 17 injuries and about $37 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on October 7, 1965.

16tornadoes
110hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
434damaging thunderstorm winds
62floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Oct 7, 1965F3–4 / 1
Mar 29, 1991F2–0 / 0
Aug 17, 1954F2–0 / 0
Oct 1, 1977F2–0 / 0
Apr 18, 1969F2–1 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Sep 17, 2018FloodPinson$31M
Mar 29, 1991Tornado–$3M
Nov 16, 2011TornadoFullers$500K
Aug 17, 1954Tornado–$250K
May 28, 1973Tornado–$250K
Mar 24, 1975Tornado–$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 1854, 2 hurricanes and 26 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Randolph County, 9 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1896, with top winds near 85 mph about 44 miles away.

2hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
26tropical storms
2021most recent: Elsa

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 29, 1896UnnamedCategory 1, 85 mph44 mi
Aug 28, 1893UnnamedCategory 1, 75 mph59 mi
Sep 6, 1996FranTropical storm, 70 mph62 mi
Sep 14, 1904UnnamedTropical storm, 65 mph62 mi
Sep 12, 1878UnnamedTropical storm, 65 mph62 mi
Sep 18, 1945UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph63 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Jul 8, 2021ElsaTropical storm, 50 mph48 mi
Jun 21, 2021ClaudetteTropical storm, 45 mph63 mi
Oct 11, 2018MichaelTropical storm, 55 mph35 mi
Sep 6, 1996FranTropical storm, 70 mph62 mi
Jul 25, 1985BobTropical storm, 50 mph55 mi
Sep 5, 1979DavidTropical storm, 50 mph57 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 Randolph County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (108 policies)
35.3%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$395,181paid on 65 flood claims since 1978
2018costliest year, with $111,887 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 Randolph County

$197,100median home value (North Carolina $288,900, US $332,700)
1985median year homes were built (North Carolina 1991, US 1980)
41%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
18.2%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; 62,901 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
Guilford CountyModerate26
Alamance CountyLow25
Davidson CountyModerate27
Moore CountyLow21
Chatham CountyLow20
Montgomery CountyLow22

Common questions about Randolph County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Randolph County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Randolph County, about $23.4 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $5.4 million.

How many federal disasters has Randolph County had?

Randolph County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1977, including 11 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is Randolph County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 33rd 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 Randolph County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 500 homes in Randolph 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 Randolph County had?

NOAA records list 16 tornadoes in Randolph County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on October 7, 1965. The weather service has also logged 110 hail reports and 62 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Randolph County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 2 hurricanes and 26 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Randolph County. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1896, 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.