Pitt County, NC Environment & Hazard Risk

• Winter weatherVery High$1.42M/yr expected annual loss, about 3.3 events a year
• HurricaneRelatively High$29.56M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 3 years
• TornadoRelatively High$10.52M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 2 years
• Heat waveRelatively Moderate$2.57M/yr expected annual loss, about 7.8 events a year
• LightningRelatively Moderate$747K/yr expected annual loss, about 51 events a year
• HailRelatively Moderate$754K/yr expected annual loss, about 3.2 events a year
• Ice stormRelatively Moderate$325K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 1 year
• DroughtRelatively Moderate$709K/yr expected annual loss, about 6.5 events a year
• EarthquakeRelatively Low$866K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 1,035 years
• Strong windRelatively Moderate$1M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 1 year
• Cold waveRelatively Low$1.52M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 2 years
• Coastal floodingRelatively Low$66.68K/yr expected annual loss, about 3.2 events a year
• WildfireVery Low$28.71K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 6,092 years
• LandslideVery Low$475/yr expected annual loss, about once every 11 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, riverine flooding, tsunami, volcanic activity.

Check the flood zone for an address

Homes with flood insurance

1,428 of 61,820 (2.3%)

Homes in high-risk flood zones

2,313

Insured in high-risk zones

795 (34%)

Flood claims since 1978

1,205

Claims paid since 1978

$36.34M

• Thunderstorm Wind190 · 1 death
• Hail142
• Flash Flood63 · 1 death
• Winter Storm23
• Tornado21
• Drought17
• Flood15
• Tropical Storm11 · 3 deaths
• Heavy Rain11
• Winter Weather9

• Hurricane (Typhoon)09/15/1999

  Pitt

  5 deaths, $296M damage

  What happened

  Hurricane Floyd caused the largest peace time evacuation in the nations history. He also caused massive record flooding across inland sections of eastern North Carolina. At one time Floyd was classified as a category 4 hurricane on the Saffir/Simpson scale and will likely be categorized as one of the nation's most costly hurricanes in the 20th century.Tropical Depression number eight was detected by the National Hurricane Center at 1600 EST on September 7th. The broad center was nearly 1000 miles west of the Lesser Antilles. At that time the depression was moving toward the west at 14 mph with maximum sustained winds of 30 mph. Within 12 hours the depression gained strength, became a tropical storm, and was named Floyd. As it neared the Virgin Islands on the afternoon of September 10th just 415 miles west of San Juan, Floyd became a hurricane. Hurricane Floyd rapidly intensified and by the evening of September 12th was classified as a category 4 hurricane. The hurricane continued to intensify. At its peak on the morning of September 13th, the winds increased to 155 mph and the central pressure bottomed-out at 921 mb. The position was 525 miles east-southeast of Miami...

• Winter Storm02/02/1996

  Pitt

  86 injured, $75K damage

  What happened

  An unusual winter storm began with freezing rain on Friday morning, February 2 across Greene, Lenoir, Pitt, Martin, Washington and Beaufort counties. Snow began falling across all of the region Saturday morning with snowfall accumulations of from 2-3 inches except around an inch along immediate coastal areas by Sunday afternoon. Temperatures plunged into the single digits Monday morning and rose only into the low 20s. Police were kept busy over the weekend with many accidents. Numerous house fires occurred when heating appliances malfunctioned or were used improperly. Highway crews finished treating many of the side streets by midweek. Schools were closed until Wednesday or Thursday.

• Tropical Storm08/26/2011

  Pitt

  2 deaths, $48M damage

  What happened

  Across Pitt County...winds gusted near hurricane force resulting in minor to major structural damage to 2000 homes and businesses, mainly due to fallen trees. Agricultural losses were estimated at 38 million dollars from flooding and winds. Storm total rainfall was 7 to 13 inches with flooding of roads and low lying areas. Two direct deaths were reported from Hurricane Irene. One fatality was due to a tree falling on a house, and a second fatality resulted from a car that struck a tree.

• Heat06/13/2008

  Pitt

  2 deaths

  What happened

  A man and a woman were found dead in a trailer on June 16th. It is believed they died on June 13th due to extreme heat. The trailer they were found in had no air conditioning and all the windows were closed despite temperatures well into the 90s. Smoke from a large wildfire to the east had spread over the region on June 13th and may have lead to the deceased individuals closing the windows despite the hot temperatures.

• Hurricane (Typhoon)09/05/1996

  Pitt

  1 death, 1 injured, $500K damage

  What happened

  Hurricane Fran moved onshore near Cape Fear Thursday evening (9/6) and raced north toward Raleigh cutting a swath of destruction. The Category 3 hurricane destroyed or damaged 90% of the homes in North Topsail Beach. The town hall and police station were destroyed. A 15 foot storm surge cut a 100-foot-wide inlet through thye middle of the island. A Camp Lejeune-based Marine lost his life when he and two others mistakenly drove onto the island at the height of the storm. State Route 1568 was washed out and NC210 was covered with sand. Damage in North Topsail and Onslow County alone exceeds $500 million as 6,688 structures were destroyed or damaged. In Carteret County, Emerald Isle reported 67 homes destroyed and 409 with major damage. Thirty-three mobile homes were destroyed. The Emerald Isle fishing pier was destroyed, and Bogue Sound Pier lost 150 feet. Erosion along the dunes ranged from 5 to 20 feet. Winds gusted to 100 mph at Atlantic Beach. Storm surge in Swansboro was measured at 10 feet. Several businesses along the waterfront were destroyed and water covered Main Street. Storm surges approaching 9 feet flooded portions of Washington and Belhaven. The...

• Tropical Storm10/08/2016

  Pitt

  1 death, 1 injured

  What happened

  Widespread heavy rain and strong winds developed over the region from the afternoon of October 8th through the morning of October 9th. Rainfall was generally 7 to 11 inches over the county with a storm total of 10.74 inches reported in Farmville. The heavy rainfall produced significant flash flooding with many roads washed out. One fatality occurred when a car drove into flood waters during the early morning hours of October 9th east of Greenville. Devastating river flooding developed along the Tar River days after the rainfall ended. The Tar River crested at 24.46 feet at Greenville in major flood well above the 13 foot flood stage. Many homes and businesses were flooded and damaged with numerous roads closed for days. Gusty north winds developed on the backside of Matthew with a peak wind gust of 59 mph recorded at the Greenville Airport at 745 pm on October 8th. The gusty winds combined with saturated ground led to many downed trees with widespread power outages.

• Thunderstorm Wind50 kt wind07/29/2026

  Pactolus, Pitt County

• Thunderstorm Wind50 kt wind07/11/2026

  Roundtree, Pitt County

• Thunderstorm Wind50 kt wind07/09/2026

  Simpson, Pitt County

• Drought07/01/2026

  Pitt

• Drought06/01/2026

  Pitt

• Drought05/01/2026

  Pitt

• Drought04/01/2026

  Pitt

• Drought03/31/2026

  Pitt

• Tropical Storm Ophelia (2023)09/21/2023 · Landfall: NC · 981 mbTropical storm58 mph nearby
• Tropical Storm Claudette (2021)06/18/2021 · Landfall: LA · 1,003 mbTropical storm46 mph nearby
• Hurricane Ernesto (2006)08/25/2006 · Landfall: FL, NC · 985 mbTropical storm58 mph nearby
• Tropical Storm Alberto (2006)06/10/2006 · Landfall: FL · 969 mbTropical storm52 mph nearby
• Hurricane Charley (2004)08/09/2004 · Landfall: FL, SC · 941 mbTropical storm69 mph nearby
• Tropical Storm Helene (2000)09/15/2000 · Landfall: FL · 986 mbTropical storm46 mph nearby
• Hurricane Earl (1998)08/31/1998 · Landfall: FL · 964 mbTropical storm58 mph nearby
• Hurricane Bertha (1996)07/05/1996 · Landfall: NC · 960 mbCategory 175 mph nearby
• Unnamed storm (1965)06/14/1965 · Landfall: FL · 1,005 mbTropical storm46 mph nearby
• Tropical Storm Brenda (1960)07/28/1960 · Landfall: FL, NC · 976 mbTropical storm63 mph nearby

• Greenville Utilities CommServes 103,140 · Surface water · Local governmentNo health violations+1 monitoring or reporting
• Eastern Pines Water CorpServes 23,000 · Purchased surface water · Private1 health violation+1 monitoring or reporting
• Bell Arthur Water CorpServes 11,765 · Purchased surface water · Private1 health violation+3 monitoring or reporting
• Winterville, Town ofServes 10,462 · Purchased surface water · Local government1 health violation+7 monitoring or reporting
• Farmville, Town ofServes 8,887 · Purchased surface water · Local governmentNo health violations+1 monitoring or reporting
• Ayden Town ofServes 6,366 · Purchased surface water · Local governmentNo health violations
• Stokes Regional Water CorpServes 3,530 · Purchased surface water · Private2 health violations+7 monitoring or reporting
• Grifton, Town ofServes 2,982 · Purchased surface water · Local governmentNo health violations