Robeson County in southeastern North Carolina is one of the poorest counties in the state and was catastrophically flooded by Hurricane Florence in 2018 when the Lumber River crested 20 feet above flood stage inundating Lumberton and surrounding communities. The county has also flooded during Matthew 2016 and other storms. Repeated flooding events have created a cycle of damage displacement and slow recovery making Robeson County one of the most chronically disaster-impacted counties in the Southeast.
// Preparedness Recommendations
- Evacuation routes inland should be identified in advance.
- Store at least 72 hours of food and water.
- Elevate critical belongings above flood level.
- Have backup power ready in case of grid failure.
// Recommended Supplies
Essential gear for power outages, severe weather, and emergency situations in your area.
- Emergency Food Supplies
- Water Filtration & Storage
- Backup Generator
- Solar Backup Power
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// Risk Intelligence
| Threat Score | 7 / 10 High Risk |
| Primary Hazard | Hurricane / Flash Flooding |
| Secondary Hazard | Tornado |
| FEMA Flood Zone | High |
| Federally Declared Disasters | 10 |
| Last Major Event | Florence 2018 Catastrophic |
| Event Frequency | Annual |
// Emergency Operations
| Emergency Mgmt Phone | (910) 671-3300 |
| Emergency Shelters | 8 designated facilities |
| Evacuation Routes | I-95 US-74 NC-72 NC-711 |
// County Profile
| County | Robeson County NC |
| State | North Carolina (NC) |
| Population | 130 |
| Area | 949 sq miles |
| FEMA Region | High |
// Major Cities
// Cities in This County
// Other North Carolina Counties
New Hanover County NC
Hurricane / Storm Surge
9/10
Critical
Brunswick County NC
Hurricane / Storm Surge
8/10
High
Buncombe County NC
Flash Flooding / Hurricane
8/10
High
Onslow County NC
Hurricane / Flooding
8/10
High
Jones County NC
Hurricane / Flash Flooding
7/10
Moderate
Pitt County NC
Hurricane / Flash Flooding
7/10
High