New Hanover County and Wilmington sit directly on North Carolina's Cape Fear coast in a primary hurricane landfall zone. Florence made landfall near Wrightsville Beach in 2018 as a Category 1 but produced catastrophic inland flooding. The county has been struck by major hurricanes multiple times including Fran in 1996 and Floyd in 1999. Its coastal barrier geography and low elevation create extreme storm surge vulnerability.
// Risk Intelligence
| Threat Score | 9 / 10 Critical Risk |
| Primary Hazard | Hurricane / Storm Surge |
| Secondary Hazard | Flooding |
| FEMA Flood Zone | Zone VE (Critical Risk) |
| Federally Declared Disasters | 65 |
| Last Major Event | Hurricane Florence (2018) |
| Event Frequency | Major event every 3–4 years |
// Emergency Operations
| Emergency Mgmt Phone | (910) 798-6900 |
| Emergency Shelters | 18 designated facilities |
| Evacuation Routes | US-17 North, I-40 West, US-74 West, NC-132 North |
// Recommended Preparedness Gear
Based on New Hanover County NC's primary hazard profile (Hurricane / Storm Surge), the following gear is recommended for a Critical risk area.
🥫 72-Hour Emergency Food Kit View on Amazon → 💧 Water Filtration System View on Amazon → ⚡ Portable Generator / Power Station View on Amazon → ☀️ Power Bank View on Amazon →* ThreatMap USA participates in the Amazon Associates Program. We may earn a commission on qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
// County Profile
| County | New Hanover County NC |
| State | North Carolina (NC) |
| Population | 238832 |
| Area | 199 sq miles |
| FEMA Region | Zone VE (Critical Risk) |