The 8 deadliest natural disasters in North Carolina history
From hurricanes to tornadoes to never-ending rainstorms, these natural disasters in North Carolina have had the highest human cost.
The coastal parts of southeastern North Carolina had a rough end to the 2024 summer. Twice in two weeks, the area saw more than a foot of rainfall, deluging areas such as Wilmington, Southport, and Carolina Beach—some of which saw some serious flooding.
The trouble started in August with Tropical Storm Debby, a slow-moving storm that brought four days of rainfall to areas that had already seen record rainfall in the previous month, according to the NC State Climate Office (NCSCO). This resulted in flooding on the coast and even some tornadoes in other eastern parts of the state.
Then, just six weeks later, in September, a nameless storm system arrived in the same spot, also moving dreadfully slow—just 3 miles per hour—which means it “effectively pointed a firehose at our state for four days straight,” as reported by the NCSCO.
When things finally cleared up, the National Weather Service reported over 20 inches of rain in multiple coastal towns, including Southport, Carolina Beach, and Bald Head Island. Much of the popular boardwalk at Carolina Beach, including the famed Britt’s Donuts, was under water, with floodwater reported to be 3 feet deep.
The storm was said to be the fifth so-called “flood of a lifetime” in just 25 years, resulting in one death and extensive damage throughout southeastern North Carolina.
As climate change continues to bring more serious storms and other natural disasters to North Carolina at an increasing rate, we took a look back at some of the state’s most costly natural disasters—be it by costing lives or causing economic destruction.
1. The Flood of 1916
Called “the flood to end all floods” nearly 100 years later by Our State Magazine, the Flood of 1916 killed 80 people and caused untold damage in western North Carolina. Riverbanks bulged and spilled over after more than 10 days of constant rain storms dumped untold amounts of rain on the western part of the state. July 15, about 10 days into the storm, saw measurements higher than had ever been previously recorded anywhere in the country—more than 22 inches in 24 hours in Altapass near Grandfather Mountain.
2. Hurricane Floyd (1999)
Reaching the shores of North Carolina on Sept. 16, 1999, Hurricane Floyd’s impact was worsened by the fact that it came on the heels of Tropical Storm Dennis, which had dumped 6 to 16 inches of rain across the eastern part of the state just 10 days prior. That meant that the ground was already saturated when Floyd dumped another 12 to 20 inches on top of that, overflowing rivers and putting entire towns under water. Floyd resulted in 52 deaths in North Carolina, many of which occurred when desperate people tried to escape in their cars only to learn that it was too late. About 8,000 homes were totally destroyed in the storm, while 67,000 more were damaged by the winds and floodwaters.
3. Tornado Outbreak of 1984
A century after the deadly Enigma tornado outbreak of 1884 (more about that below), the afternoon and evening hours of March 28, 1984, saw 24 confirmed tornadoes—including seven F4 tornadoes, five F3 tornadoes, and seven F2 tornadoes—sweep through eastern North Carolina in just four hours. The storms killed 57 people and injured over 1,200 more, with 37% of the deaths occurring among mobile home residents. Affected counties included Pitt, Greene, Lenoir, and Duplin, with nine deaths reported in Pitt County and seven in Greene. East Carolina University in Greenville sustained severe damage.
4. Hurricane Florence (2018)
The only natural disaster on this list to have occurred in the 21st century, Hurricane Florence was a large and slow-moving Category 1 hurricane that made landfall at Wrightsville Beach on the morning of Sept. 14, 2018. More than 30 inches of rain were measured in a few North Carolina locations, exceeding the highest single-storm rainfall amounts ever seen in that portion of the state. The state of North Carolina reported 42 fatalities due to the hurricane, with preliminary damage estimated at $16.7 billion, making it one of the most costly natural disasters in North Carolina. More than 74,000 structures were flooded, with 5,214 people needing to be rescued from the flood waters. Nearly 140,000 North Carolinians registered for disaster assistance after the storm.
5. Enigma Tornado Outbreak of 1884
The deadliest tornado outbreak in North Carolina history for 100 years, the true extent of the Enigma tornado outbreak can not be known due to the lack of technology to trace how many tornadoes touched down and the fact that many families in those days buried their dead on their own properties. The storms spawned dozens of tornadoes across 10 states, killing at least 28 people in North Carolina—including one specific F4 tornado that swept across Pee Dee, Rockingham, Philadelphia, and Manly, killing more than 23 people and injuring 100 more.
6. Hurricane Fran (1996)
Developed from a tropical wave that moved off the coast of Africa on Aug. 22, 1996, Hurricane Fran would eventually make landfall over the Cape Fear area of southeastern North Carolina on Sept. 5. Though Fran weakened rather quickly, downgrading to a Category 1 storm after just six hours, the damage was done—and North Carolina got it the worst.
The North Topsail Beach police station, temporarily located in a double-wide trailer after Hurricane Bertha totaled the original building a few months prior, was washed away by a 12-foot storm surge. More than 400 homes in Emerald Isle were damaged, with about 60 being completely destroyed. Damages in North Topsail Beach and Carteret County alone were estimated to be over $500 million. More tragic, however, was the loss of life, and North Carolina felt that impact the hardest, as well. Out of the 26 deaths caused by Fran, 14 occurred in NC. Most were caused by accidents from fallen trees, including trees falling on houses and automobile crashes into fallen trees.
7. Hurricane Hazel (1954)
Believed to be the strongest hurricane to ever hit the North Carolina coast, the only storm to be a Category 4 at the time of landfall, Hazel struck at a time when there was no early warning system to help get residents and visitors out of town.
When landfall occurred near the North/South Carolina border on Oct. 15, 1954, winds were recorded up to 150 mph. A storm surge of over 12 feet inundated a large area of coastline, reaching as high as 18 feet at Calabash. The fact that the hurricane coincided with the highest lunar tide of the year only intensified the damage. Brunswick County suffered the heaviest damage, with most coastal dwellings getting wiped out completely or suffering serious damage. Only five of 357 buildings were left standing after Hazel passed. An official report from the Weather Bureau in Raleigh stated that, as a result of Hazel, “all traces of civilization on the immediate waterfront between the state line and Cape Fear were practically annihilated.” Nineteen people were killed in North Carolina, with several hundred more injured.
8. 1936 Cordele–Greensboro Tornado Outbreak
It was no April Fool’s joke when, on April 1-2, 1936, a tornado outbreak swept through Georgia before moving on through North Carolina. Developing in three waves of tornadic activity over 14 hours, all associated with the same storm system, Greensboro was hit the hardest in NC. On the evening of April 2, an F4 tornado cut through the southern side of the city, killing 14 people and injuring 144. Another person was killed near Mebane that same day.
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