Person County, North Carolina
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 37145 · population 39,080 · 392 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 461 records for Person County, North Carolina from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 329 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (213 records). The deadliest single record is the July 19, 2005 heat, filed for the forecast zone Person, which covers the county: 1 death. FEMA has issued 27 declarations naming the county since 1977, 25 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Winter Storm” on January 24, 2026.
The record, 1950 to 2026
Storm records filed for the county each year (2026 to June 30, 2026). Before 1996 NOAA recorded only tornadoes (from 1950), thunderstorm wind and hail (from 1955).
- recorded, no damage figure
- under $100,000
- $100,000 or more
- $1 million or more
- $10 million or more, or a death
- $100 million or more, or 10 deaths
- a year's colour: its recorded damage or deaths
- a year with a death
- 1955: wind and hail recorded from 1955
- 1996: all 48 event types from 1996
- Storm records
- 461on 329 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 12 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $13Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 11strongest EF2
- FEMA declarations
- 27latest 2026
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records through June 30, 2026 (file revision 20260918); damage converted to 2025 dollars with the BLS CPI-U. Search the record at NCEI. BLS consumer price index.
What hazards hit Person County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 213 since 1956. 55% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1956 fell in June and July. The rank column places the county among North Carolina's counties by days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land over each hazard's complete period.
| Hazard | Records | Days | First, last | Killed | Injured | Damage | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 213 | 155 | 1956-2025 | 0 | 0 | $703K | 26 of 100 |
| Winter storms | 87 | 85 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $1.5M | 28 of 100 |
| Hail | 84 | 53 | 1975-2023 | 0 | 0 | $2.7M | 48 of 100 |
| Floods | 26 | 21 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 0 | $942K | 68 of 100 |
| High wind and dust storms | 22 | 19 | 1998-2020 | 0 | 0 | $1.4M | 36 of 100 |
| Tornadoes | 11 | 10 | 1964-2013 | 0 | 2 | $4.8M | 51 of 100 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 6 | 6 | 1996-2018 | 0 | 0 | $754K | 45 of 100 |
| Heat | 4 | 4 | 1998-2025 | 1 | 0 | – | 33 of 100 |
| Heavy rain | 3 | 2 | 1998-2020 | 0 | 0 | – | 74 of 100 |
| Lightning | 3 | 3 | 2000-2013 | 0 | 0 | $348K | 63 of 100 |
| Extreme cold | 2 | 2 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 59 of 100 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (county and forecast-zone records attributed to the county; a zone record shows its own totals on each county it covers). Days: dates with at least one record of the hazard in the county. Ranks: days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land (Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer), since 1950 for tornadoes, 1955 for hail and thunderstorm wind, 1996 for the rest.
How many tornadoes has Person County had?
NOAA records 11 tornadoes in Person County from 1964 to 2013, the strongest rated EF2, with 0 deaths and 2 injuries recorded in the county. A tornado that crossed a county line is counted in each county it touched, with the length of its path inside the county.
Counted as whole tornadoes rather than county records, the Storm Prediction Center's database holds 11 tornadoes whose track touched Person County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 11, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in North Carolina.
Every tornado record filed for Person County (11)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013-07-02 | Cunningham, Person County | EF0 0.43 mi x 180 yd | 0 | 0 | $127K |
| 2011-04-16 | Hyco, Person County | EF2 9.66 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 2 | $525K |
| 2010-10-27 | Brooksdale, Person County | EF1 0.56 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $102K |
| 2010-10-27 | Hesters Store, Person County | EF0 0.56 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $14K |
| 2010-03-28 | Mt Tirzah, Person County | EF1 4.05 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $338K |
| 2005-07-07 | Ceffo, Person County | F0 1 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1995-10-27 | Mayo Lake, Person County | F2 4 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $484K |
| 1995-06-08 | Southwest, Person County | F0 1 mi x 35 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1981-06-06 | Person County | F1 3.6 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1977-05-05 | Person County | F1 0.5 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1964-07-12 | Person County | F2 3.6 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
A damage figure marked "step" is a record from before 1993: NOAA then filed damage by category, and the figure is the category as entered, in the dollars of that year, not an estimate of the loss.
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, tornado records by county (path length in the county, maximum width); ratings as published: F scale before February 1, 2007, EF scale after. Whole-track figures: NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database (1950-2025). SPC severe weather database.
When was the last damaging storm in Person County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the July 18, 2025 thunderstorm wind ($5,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-31 | Winter StormPerson County · forecast zone Person | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-24 | Winter StormPerson County · forecast zone Person | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-11-11 | Frost/FreezePerson County · forecast zone Person | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-07-18 | Thunderstorm WindGordonton, Person County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $5K |
| 2025-07-07 | Flash FloodHesters Store, Person County | 0 | 0 | $5K | |
| 2025-07-07 | Flash FloodHesters Store, Person County | 0 | 0 | $10K | |
| 2025-07-07 | Flash FloodLongs Store, Person County | 0 | 0 | $10K | |
| 2025-07-06 | Flash FloodBushy Fork, Person County | 0 | 0 | $500K | |
| 2025-06-25 | Excessive HeatPerson County · forecast zone Person | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-06-24 | Excessive HeatPerson County · forecast zone Person | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-06-19 | Thunderstorm WindTimberlake, Person County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2025-06-19 | Thunderstorm WindSurf, Person County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database; every record of 2025-2026 is listed, earlier ones when they caused deaths, injuries or $250,000 of damage (2025 dollars), and every tornado.
The deadliest and costliest records
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005-07-19 | HeatPerson County · forecast zone Person The body of a migrant worker was found on Walker Farm in Person County. The worker complained of sickness and left the farm around 1130am. The worker was later found dead only a quarter mile away in a creek bed. The heat index by 11am was 103 degrees. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2011-04-16 | TornadoHyco, Person County The tornado initially touched down 4 miles north northwest of Roxboro on 3922 Chub Lake Road near a golf course in Person County as an EF0. The tornado strengthened to an EF1 as it passed near the Bethel Hill Charter School and then strengthened to an EF2 as it crossed 220 North Point Drive. The tornado continued ... | EF2 9.66 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 2 | $525K |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012-07-01 | HailCeffo, Person County | 1.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | $2.6M |
| 2014-03-06 | Ice StormPerson County · forecast zone Person | 0 | 0 | $666K | |
| 2025-07-06 | Flash FloodBushy Fork, Person County | 0 | 0 | $500K | |
| 2008-09-06 | Flash FloodLongs Store, Person County | 0 | 0 | $343K | |
| 2010-03-28 | TornadoMt Tirzah, Person County | EF1 4.05 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $338K |
| 2013-07-02 | TornadoCunningham, Person County | EF0 0.43 mi x 180 yd | 0 | 0 | $127K |
| 2010-10-27 | TornadoBrooksdale, Person County | EF1 0.56 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $102K |
| 2010-10-27 | TornadoHesters Store, Person County | EF0 0.56 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $14K |
Before 1993 NOAA filed damage by category, not amount, so the list above starts in 1993. The highest category filed here before then (entered as $250K, in the dollars of the day) holds: July 12, 1964 (tornado, Person County); June 6, 1981 (tornado, Person County).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: deaths and injuries direct and indirect; damage is property plus crops as estimated by the National Weather Service, converted to 2025 dollars.
Is it getting more frequent?
Records per decade for Person County's most frequent hazards. Counts rose everywhere after 1996, when NOAA began recording every event type, so compare decades within a hazard's complete period only (the shaded cells come before it).
| Hazard | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 1 | 2 | 2 | 18 | 15 | 39 | 84 | 52 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 7 | 26 | 35 | 19 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 11 | 28 | 33 | 5 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 2 | 8 | 10 | 6 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 1 | 7 | 11 | 3 |
| Tornadoes | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 0 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
55% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1956 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 50 · Feb 31 · Mar 32 · Apr 35 · May 53 · Jun 72 · Jul 96 · Aug 30 · Sep 26 · Oct 13 · Nov 5 · Dec 18 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Person County
FEMA's register lists 27 declarations that include Person County: 13 major disasters, 14 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for hurricane (12) and severe ice storm (3).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-24 | EM-3637 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2025-09-11 | DR-4889 | Tropical Depression | Tropical Depression Chantal |
| 2024-09-26 | EM-3617 | Tropical Storm | Hurricane Helene |
| 2024-08-06 | EM-3608 | Tropical Storm | Tropical Storm Debby |
| 2022-10-01 | EM-3586 | Hurricane | Hurricane Ian |
| 2020-08-02 | EM-3534 | Hurricane | Hurricane Isaias |
| 2020-03-25 | DR-4487 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3471 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2019-09-03 | EM-3423 | Hurricane | Hurricane Dorian |
| 2019-01-31 | DR-4412 | Hurricane | Tropical Storm Michael |
| 2018-09-14 | DR-4393 | Hurricane | Hurricane Florence |
| 2018-09-10 | EM-3401 | Hurricane | Hurricane Florence |
| 2016-10-07 | EM-3380 | Hurricane | Hurricane Matthew |
| 2014-03-31 | DR-4167 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2008-10-08 | DR-1801 | Severe Storm | Tropical Storm Hanna |
| 2005-09-05 | EM-3222 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2003-09-18 | DR-1490 | Hurricane | Hurricane Isabel |
| 2003-03-27 | DR-1457 | Severe Ice Storm | Ice Storm |
| 2002-12-12 | DR-1448 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Ice Storm |
| 2000-01-31 | DR-1312 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 1999-09-16 | DR-1292 | Hurricane | Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations |
| 1999-09-15 | EM-3146 | Hurricane | Hurricane Floyd Emergency Declarations |
| 1996-09-06 | DR-1134 | Hurricane | Hurricane Fran |
| 1996-01-13 | DR-1087 | Snowstorm | Blizzard of 96 |
| 1993-03-17 | EM-3110 | Snowstorm | Severe Snowfall & Winter Storm |
| 1977-08-11 | EM-3049 | Drought | Drought |
| 1977-03-02 | EM-3033 | Snowstorm | Drought & Freezing |
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2), declarations through October 2, 2026; one declaration is counted once however many areas it names. OpenFEMA dataset page.
How many floods has Person County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 26 flood or flash flood records for Person County from 1996 to 2025, on 21 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Person County ranks 2400th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
| Storm | Began | Records | Deaths in the county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tropical Depression Chantal | 2025-07-06 | 4 | 0 |
| Tropical Storm Michael | 2018-10-11 | 1 | 0 |
| Tropical Storm Hanna | 2008-09-06 | 1 | 0 |
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $50,000 on 9 claims filed in Person County; the most in one year was 3 in 2017. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1993: 1 · 1996: 1 · 1999: 1 · 2017: 3 · 2020: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2025: 1; the other years: 0.
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims, as of September 8, 2026; claims by year of loss, payments in the dollars of the year paid. OpenFEMA dataset page.
FEMA's modeled risk for Person County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Person County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $9.8 million. These are FEMA's model estimates of future loss from 18 hazards, not a count of what happened; they can differ from the record above.
| Hazard | Risk rating | Expected annual loss | Modeled frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | $496K | 17 modeled event-days a year |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | $91K | 7.7 a year (modeled) |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | $557K | once in about 12 years (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | $587K | 2.6 modeled event-days a year |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | $1.1M | once in about 7 years (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | $5.7M | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Hail | Relatively Low | $235K | 4.4 a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | $145K | 45 a year (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Person County
Source: U.S. Census Bureau county adjacency file; NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records since 1950. The Census Bureau's adjacency file.
Next
- Tornadoes in North CarolinaEvery North Carolina tornado since 1950 and the counties with the most per square mile
- Severe thunderstorm wind in North CarolinaThe state's severe thunderstorm wind events, by county, year and month
- The North Carolina recordEvery hazard in the state, its deadliest events and its federal declarations
- FEMA's risk rating for each hazard in Person CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Person County's FEMA declarations (CSV)27 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis