Wilmington sits directly on North Carolina's Cape Fear coast and has been struck by more hurricane landfalls than almost any other US city. Florence made landfall just east of Wilmington in 2018 as a Category 1 but produced catastrophic inland flooding. The city was also directly hit by Bertha and Fran in 1996 within weeks of each other. Wrightsville Beach — Wilmington's barrier island — is extremely vulnerable to direct hurricane strikes and storm surge.
// 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 | 9 / 10 Critical |
| Primary Hazard | Hurricane / Storm Surge |
| FEMA Flood Zone | Zone VE (Critical Risk) |
| County FEMA Declarations | 65 |
| Last Major Event | Hurricane Florence (2018) |
// Emergency Information
| Emergency Phone | (910) 341-7600 |
| Evacuation Routes | US-17 North, I-40 West, US-74 West, NC-132 North |
| Elevation | 32 ft above sea level |
// County Risk Profile
// Nearby Infrastructure Risks
Critical infrastructure facilities within or near this area that could affect civilian safety during emergencies, conflict, or infrastructure failures.
Infrastructure risk data is for emergency preparedness awareness. Facility locations are publicly known. Always follow official emergency guidance.