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.
// 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 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 |
// County Profile
| County | New Hanover County NC |
| State | North Carolina (NC) |
| Population | 238,832 |
| Area | 199 sq miles |
| FEMA Region | Zone VE (Critical Risk) |
// Major Cities
// Cities in This County
// Other North Carolina Counties
// 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.