Warren County, North Carolina
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Warren County, North Carolina has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 51% of US counties. It ranks 74th 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 $550 per resident. Since 1977 it has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (9 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). Only 28 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 Warren 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 | 55.9 | $5M | ||
| Hurricane | 84.9 | $2M | ||
| Tornado | 57.7 | $1000K | ||
| Drought | 82.5 | $668K | ||
| Cold wave | 32.2 | $288K | ||
| Heat wave | 51.4 | $249K | ||
| Earthquake | 55.4 | $227K | ||
| Hail | 56.3 | $207K | ||
| Strong wind | 30.7 | $185K | ||
| Winter weather | 78.6 | $120K | ||
| Lightning | 32.4 | $74K | ||
| Ice storm | 46.0 | $44K | ||
| Wildfire | 26.6 | $7K | ||
| Landslide | 22.6 | $93 |
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 Warren County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 22
North Carolina also had 22 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1966
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 221 storm reports in Warren County since 1966, with 3 deaths and 3 injuries and about $3.1 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on November 2, 1966.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 2, 1966 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Oct 2, 1969 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 27, 2020 | EF0 | Paschall | 0 / 0 |
| Oct 27, 1995 | F0 | Wise | 0 / 0 |
| May 19, 2001 | F0 | Ridgeway | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 5, 1997 | Hail | Inez | $2M |
| Nov 2, 1966 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Oct 2, 1969 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Oct 8, 2016 | Flash Flood | Paschall | $250K |
| May 11, 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | Littleton | $75K |
| Aug 5, 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | Inez | $50K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 19, 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, 5 hurricanes and 32 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Warren County, 16 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1878, with top winds near 100 mph about 60 miles away.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 23, 1878 | Unnamed | Category 2, 100 mph | 60 mi |
| Oct 13, 1893 | Unnamed | Category 1, 90 mph | 59 mi |
| Sep 18, 2003 | Isabel | Category 1, 85 mph | 49 mi |
| Sep 17, 1876 | Unnamed | Category 1, 85 mph | 62 mi |
| Sep 30, 1896 | Unnamed | Category 1, 80 mph | 55 mi |
| Jul 13, 1996 | Bertha | Tropical storm, 70 mph | 59 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 23, 2023 | Ophelia | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 53 mi |
| Jul 8, 2021 | Elsa | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 59 mi |
| Jun 21, 2021 | Claudette | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 64 mi |
| Aug 4, 2020 | Isaias | Tropical storm, 70 mph | 42 mi |
| Sep 6, 2008 | Hanna | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 48 mi |
| Aug 30, 2004 | Gaston | Tropical storm, 35 mph | 57 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 Warren 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 Warren 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; 11,723 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Nash County | 26 | |
| Franklin County | 21 | |
| Halifax County | 24 | |
| Vance County | 21 | |
| Mecklenburg County, VA | 18 | |
| Northampton County | 23 | |
| Brunswick County, VA | 17 |
Common questions about Warren County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Warren County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Warren County, about $4.9 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Hurricane is second at $2.3 million.
How many federal disasters has Warren County had?
Warren County has been included in 22 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 Warren County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 74th 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 Warren County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 500 homes in Warren 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 Warren County had?
NOAA records list 6 tornadoes in Warren County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on November 2, 1966. The weather service has also logged 35 hail reports and 25 floods here.
How many hurricanes have hit Warren County?
NOAA's hurricane records show 5 hurricanes and 32 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Warren County. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1878, with winds near 100 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.