Moore County, NC Environment & Hazard Risk
Relatively Low natural hazard risk, led by hurricane. 542 storm events since 1996.
- Expected yearly loss
- $34.55M
- Relatively Low nationally
- Storm events since 1996
- 542
- Most often thunderstorm wind
- Flood insurance policies
- 483
- 1.3% of homes
- Hurricanes nearby
- 1
- 15 tropical storms or stronger since 1877
Natural hazard risk
FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025
Overall risk
Relatively Low
Score 75.6 of 100
Social vulnerability
Relatively Moderate
Score 40.0 of 100
Community resilience
Relatively Moderate
Score 52.3 of 100
Community resilience runs the other way: a higher rating means a community can recover faster.
Building value exposed: $26.75B · Agriculture value exposed: $194M · Risk-adjusted yearly loss: $36.5M
Risk by hazard
- HurricaneRelatively Moderate$5.66M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 6 years
- Ice stormRelatively High$772K/yr expected annual loss, about 1.8 events a year
- LightningRelatively High$1.07M/yr expected annual loss, about 51 events a year
- TornadoRelatively Moderate$5.38M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 3 years
- WildfireRelatively Low$479K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 754 years
- Heat waveRelatively Low$1.25M/yr expected annual loss, about 6.3 events a year
- EarthquakeRelatively Low$1.19M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 705 years
- HailRelatively Low$426K/yr expected annual loss, about 4.1 events a year
- Winter weatherRelatively Moderate$99.16K/yr expected annual loss, about 4.9 events a year
- DroughtRelatively Low$135K/yr expected annual loss, about 17 events a year
- Cold waveRelatively Low$897K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 2 years
- Strong windRelatively Low$410K/yr expected annual loss, about 1.6 events a year
- LandslideVery Low$537/yr expected annual loss, about once every 3 years
Bars show the national percentile score (0 to 100) for each hazard. Dollar figures are expected annual losses to buildings, people and crops. Not rated here: avalanche, coastal flooding, riverine flooding, tsunami, volcanic activity.
Flood risk and insurance
National Flood Insurance Program and FEMA flood maps
Check the flood zone for an address
- Homes with flood insurance
- 483 of 36,933 (1.3%)
- Homes in high-risk flood zones
- 434
- Insured in high-risk zones
- 222 (51%)
- Flood claims since 1978
- 154
- Claims paid since 1978
- $2.86M
Flood claims paid per year
- 2025 July TS Chantal$1.06M · 22 claims
- Hurricane Matthew$802K · 54 claims
- Hurricane Florence$585K · 33 claims
- Hurricane Michael$75.4K · 3 claims
- Hurricane Hanna$56.94K · 2 claims
- Hurricane Fran$48.38K · 3 claims
Storm history
Since 1996: 542 events, 6 deaths, $42.62M in damage
- Thunderstorm Wind296
- Hail83
- Flash Flood51
- Winter Storm27 · 2 deaths
- Strong Wind16
- Winter Weather15 · 1 death
- Lightning14 · 2 deaths
- Tornado8
- High Wind4
- Flood4
Events per year
16 tornadoes on record (EF0 2, EF1 1, F0 4, F1 7, F2 2).
Most damaging storms
Since 1996, ranked by deaths, injuries and damage
- Flood09/17/2018
Addor, Moore County
$28.34M damage
What happened
Torrential rainfall of 10 to 15 inches caused widespread flooding across the county. Additional rainfall upstream resulted in major flooding along the Flat Creek near Vass. Flooding damaged approximately 418 structures throughout the county, destroying 29 and resulting in approximately $8.34 million in property damage. Crop damage was at least $20 million. Numerous streets and roads were reported flooded.
- Winter Storm01/04/2018
Moore
2 deaths, $10K damage
What happened
Average snowfall totals across the county ranged from 4 to 6 inches. Broadcast media reported two men were killed when their pick-up truck slid off a bridge and into a creek on Dowd Road near Mount Carmel Road.
- Tropical Storm09/30/2022
Moore
1 death, $750K damage
What happened
Frequent wind gusts of 40 to 60 mph resulted in scattered to numerous trees and power lines down across Moore County, including some on homes. Numerous customers lost power in Moore County as a result of the tropical storm force wind gusts. A 24 year old male died when he car hydroplaned and ran off the road and struck a tree.
- Winter Weather12/16/2010
Moore
1 death
What happened
A prolonged period of light snow and freezing rain in the morning resulted a half inch of snow with a tenth of an inch of freezing rain. This combination created hazardous driving conditions during the morning commute. A 63 year old man was killed when his Jeep slid off the road and rolled.
- Lightning08/08/2006
Southern Pines, Moore County
1 death
What happened
Lightning struck 17 year old as he was removing clothes from a clothesline outside his home. He died several days later at UNC Hospital in Chapel Hill.
- Lightning05/24/2002
Robbins, Moore County
1 death
What happened
A 7-year-old boy was struck by lightning under a tree in his backyard, and died in a hospital three days later.
Latest storm reports
Newest first
- Thunderstorm Wind52 kt wind07/13/2026
Southern Pines Arpt, Moore County
- Thunderstorm Wind50 kt wind07/10/2026
Carthage, Moore County
$2,000 damage
- Thunderstorm Wind50 kt wind07/10/2026
Aberdeen, Moore County
$2,000 damage
- Thunderstorm Wind50 kt wind07/10/2026
Spies, Moore County
$2,000 damage
- Thunderstorm Wind50 kt wind07/10/2026
Robbins, Moore County
$2,000 damage
- Thunderstorm Wind50 kt wind07/05/2026
Mt Pleasant, Moore County
$1,000 damage
- Thunderstorm Wind50 kt wind07/05/2026
Lakeview, Moore County
$5,000 damage
- Thunderstorm Wind50 kt wind07/05/2026
Vass, Moore County
$1,000 damage
Hurricanes and tropical storms
Storms whose track crossed Moore County, with the wind when it passed
- Hurricane Ian (2022)09/23/2022 · Landfall: FL, SC · 937 mbTropical storm58 mph nearby
- Hurricane Elsa (2021)07/01/2021 · Landfall: FL, NY, RI · 991 mbTropical storm52 mph nearby
- Hurricane Danny (1997)07/16/1997 · Landfall: LA, AL · 984 mbTropical storm46 mph nearby
- Hurricane Alma (1970)05/18/1970 · 993 mbTropical storm46 mph nearby
- Unnamed storm (1945)09/12/1945 · Landfall: FL, SC · 949 mbTropical storm58 mph nearby
- Unnamed storm (1944)10/12/1944 · Landfall: FL · 937 mbTropical storm58 mph nearby
- Unnamed storm (1935)08/29/1935 · Landfall: FL · 892 mbTropical storm58 mph nearby
- Unnamed storm (1929)09/19/1929 · Landfall: FL · 924 mbTropical storm58 mph nearby
- Unnamed storm (1920)09/19/1920 · Landfall: NCTropical storm40 mph nearby
- Unnamed storm (1913)08/30/1913 · Landfall: NC · 976 mbTropical storm46 mph nearby
Drinking water
27 community water systems serve about 99,358 people. Violations since 2021.
8 systems had health-based violations, such as a contaminant over the legal limit or a missed treatment step. 8 systems had a violation of any kind still open at last report.
- Moore Co Public Util-PinehurstServes 31,390 · Purchased surface water · Local governmentNo health violations+5 monitoring or reporting
- Southern Pines, Town ofServes 24,102 · Surface water · Local government1 health violation+1 monitoring or reporting
- Aberdeen, Town ofServes 12,473 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations
- East Moore Water DistrictServes 9,330 · Purchased surface water · Local governmentNo health violations+1 monitoring or reporting
- Carthage, Town ofServes 4,307 · Surface water · Local governmentNo health violations+2 monitoring or reporting
- Whispering Pines DevelopmentServes 4,178 · Purchased surface water · Private1 health violation+1 monitoring or reporting
- Woodlake Water & Sewer INCServes 2,287 · Purchased surface water · PrivateNo health violations
- Pinebluff, Town ofServes 2,208 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+2 monitoring or reporting
Largest systems by population served. Monitoring and reporting violations mean required tests or notices were late or missing, not that the water was unsafe.
Climate
1991-2020 normals at Carthage Wtp, 4.6 mi from the county center
Summer highs peak around 90°F in Jul and winter lows bottom out near 31°F in Jan. About 47.8 inches of rain falls in a typical year, with 1.3 inches of snow.
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 53°F | 31°F | 3.93 in | 0.7 in |
| Feb | 56°F | 32°F | 3.09 in | 0.3 in |
| Mar | 65°F | 40°F | 4.12 in | 0.2 in |
| Apr | 73°F | 47°F | 3.32 in | - |
| May | 80°F | 57°F | 2.95 in | - |
| Jun | 87°F | 65°F | 4.50 in | - |
| Jul | 90°F | 69°F | 4.72 in | - |
| Aug | 88°F | 67°F | 4.86 in | - |
| Sep | 83°F | 61°F | 5.67 in | - |
| Oct | 73°F | 49°F | 3.38 in | - |
| Nov | 64°F | 39°F | 3.61 in | - |
| Dec | 55°F | 33°F | 3.66 in | 0.1 in |
| Year | 61°F average | 47.8 in | 1.3 in | |
Pollution sites
3 Superfund sites and 4 toxic release facilities in Moore County
Superfund sites
- Aberdeen Contaminated Ground WaterFinalAberdeen
- Aberdeen Pesticide DumpsFinalAberdeen
- Geigy Chemical Corp. (Aberdeen Plant)FinalAberdeen
Toxic release facilities
- Erico International Corp99.2 lbs released, Aberdeen
- Perdue Foods LLC - Candor Feedmill/Eagle Springs Hatchery0 lbs released, Candor
- Concrete Supply Co. LLC - Aberdeen0 lbs released, Aberdeen
- Ingersoll Rand0 lbs released, Southern Pines
Total: 99.2 lbs in 2024, 28 lbs to air.
Superfund sitesToxic release facilitiesEPA inspections and enforcementAir toxics cancer risk13 historic places
Frequently asked questions
- How risky is Moore County for natural disasters?
- FEMA rates Moore County relatively low for overall natural hazard risk, with expected losses of $34.55M a year. The highest-rated hazards are hurricane (relatively moderate), ice storm (relatively high), lightning (relatively high).
- What storms are most common in Moore County?
- Since 1996, NOAA recorded 542 storm events affecting Moore County, most often thunderstorm wind (296), hail (83), flash flood (51).
- How many tornadoes have hit Moore County?
- 16 tornadoes have been recorded in Moore County since 1950.
- How many homes in Moore County have flood insurance?
- 483 residential flood insurance policies are in force in Moore County, covering about 1.3% of homes. The program has paid $2.86M on 154 claims here since 1978.
- What is the weather like in Moore County?
- At Carthage Wtp, average highs reach 90°F in Jul and lows fall to 31°F in Jan, with 47.8 inches of rain a year (1991-2020 normals).
Source: FEMA (National Risk Index, NFIP), NOAA (Storm Events, HURDAT2, Climate Normals), EPA · Last updated 08/01/2026 · Storm counts include events in forecast zones that touch the county. This product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA.