Tyrrell County, North Carolina
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Tyrrell County, North Carolina has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 54% of US counties. It ranks 81st of 100 counties in North Carolina. The costliest hazards here are hurricanes, inland flooding and coastal flooding. FEMA estimates about $9.2 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $2,847 per resident. Since 1998 it has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (9 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). About 1 in 6 homes here carry federal flood insurance (423 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $9.0 million on 588 claims here, including $4.2 million for floods in 2011.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Tyrrell 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.
- Learn your evacuation zone; it is set by surge risk, not by distance from the beach.
- Ask about flood insurance even outside a mapped high-risk zone.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hurricane | 92.1 | $7M | ||
| Inland flooding | 8.5 | $731K | ||
| Coastal flooding | 68.8 | $635K | ||
| Tornado | 21.4 | $168K | ||
| Strong wind | 16.8 | $92K | ||
| Heat wave | 27.9 | $76K | ||
| Cold wave | 11.9 | $68K | ||
| Lightning | 26.1 | $59K | ||
| Wildfire | 57.2 | $45K | ||
| Hail | 16.0 | $35K | ||
| Winter weather | 42.5 | $31K | ||
| Earthquake | 19.0 | $17K | ||
| Drought | 28.3 | $12K | ||
| Ice storm | 15.7 | $6K | ||
| Landslide | 3.2 | $2 |
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 moderate in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Tyrrell County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 23
North Carolina also had 22 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1975
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 87 storm reports in Tyrrell County since 1975, with 4 deaths and 3 injuries and about $1.6 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on May 16, 1983.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 16, 1983 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Nov 17, 1988 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 26, 2011 | EF2 | Columbia | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 16, 2011 | EF1 | Jerry | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 26, 1989 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 16, 2011 | Tornado | Jerry | $400K |
| May 16, 1983 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Nov 17, 1988 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Jun 26, 1989 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Aug 26, 2011 | Tornado | Columbia | $150K |
| Jun 4, 2004 | Tornado | Columbia | $75K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 14, 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, 29 hurricanes and 45 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Tyrrell County, 35 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1899, with top winds near 120 mph about 59 miles away.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 17, 1899 | Unnamed | Category 3, 120 mph | 59 mi |
| Sep 14, 1944 | Unnamed | Category 3, 115 mph | 63 mi |
| Aug 18, 1879 | Unnamed | Category 3, 110 mph | 32 mi |
| Sep 27, 1985 | Gloria | Category 2, 105 mph | 56 mi |
| Sep 16, 1933 | Unnamed | Category 2, 105 mph | 63 mi |
| Oct 23, 1878 | Unnamed | Category 2, 105 mph | 59 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 23, 2023 | Ophelia | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 65 mi |
| Jun 21, 2021 | Claudette | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 43 mi |
| Sep 6, 2019 | Dorian | Category 2, 100 mph | 59 mi |
| Sep 3, 2016 | Hermine | Tropical storm, 65 mph | 53 mi |
| Jul 4, 2014 | Arthur | Category 2, 100 mph | 61 mi |
| Aug 27, 2011 | Irene | Category 1, 80 mph | 56 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 Tyrrell 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 Tyrrell 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; 2,229 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Pasquotank County | 21 | |
| Dare County | 29 | |
| Currituck County | 22 | |
| Perquimans County | 22 | |
| Washington County | 22 | |
| Camden County | 21 | |
| Hyde County | 30 |
Common questions about Tyrrell County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Tyrrell County?
Hurricane has the highest expected yearly losses in Tyrrell County, about $7.3 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $730,574.
How many federal disasters has Tyrrell County had?
Tyrrell County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1998, including 9 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.
Is Tyrrell County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 81st 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 Tyrrell County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 6 homes in Tyrrell 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 Tyrrell County had?
NOAA records list 14 tornadoes in Tyrrell County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on May 16, 1983. The weather service has also logged 23 hail reports and 2 floods here.
How many hurricanes have hit Tyrrell County?
NOAA's hurricane records show 29 hurricanes and 45 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Tyrrell County, including 3 major hurricanes (Category 3 or stronger). The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1899, 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.