at 12 years old, i stood with my parents and brothers, stacking sandbags around our basement doors, watching as the creek in our backyard surged into our home. growing up in north carolina, a state all too familiar with hurricanes, i became accustomed to the threat of flooding, but the increasing severity of these storms was hard to ignore.

hit by 55 hurricanes since 1851, north carolina is the third most hurricane-prone state in the u.s. the devastating impacts of hurricanes such as florence, matthew, and now helene have made the effects of climate change in the tar heel state more pronounced than ever. 

hurricane helene, which struck north carolina last week, left entire towns submerged, displaced hundreds of people, and caused billions of dollars of damage. with climate change intensifying rainfall events and causing sea levels to rise, north carolinians confront an urgent question: how can we protect our communities from future floods?

the role of flood maps in preparation

flood maps are tools that help communities identify areas most at risk for flooding. these maps indicate different flood zones, such as high-risk areas that may require flood insurance, and include data such as base flood elevations (bfe) to predict potential water levels during major floods. however, despite their importance, many north carolinians – especially in rural underserved areas – struggle to access or fully understand these tools. 

one woman i spoke with, olivia green from kings mountain, shared her experience.

“i didn’t think we were at risk. our area never flooded before, so i never thought to look for flood maps or check any resources,” green said. 

even in flood-prone states like north carolina, many people assume that if they haven’t experienced flooding in the past, they are not at risk. but as storms grow in intensity, even areas once considered safe can become vulnerable to severe floods.

the uncertainty around floods is something that stuart pimm ph. d., a professor of conservation at duke university commented on.

“there are runs of good years and bad years. extremes [in weather events] are often worse than expected [..]. the chance of bad floods next year is higher because this year has been bad,” he said.

pimm suggested that communities must be ready for unpredictable and worsening flooding events in the years to come.

as climate risks rise, this disconnect between flood mapping resources and the communities they aim to protect is both individual and systemic. the challenge of flood preparedness raises larger questions: are the outreach efforts and tools aimed at informing people about flood risks reaching those who need them most? do people have access to flood maps? can information on maps be interpreted? 

flooding in north carolina: where do we go from here?

hurricane helene has made evident that flood preparedness in north carolina must improve – and that simply having flood maps available isn’t enough. to protect communities, these tools must be accessible, accurate, and better understood. 

ultimately, the responsibility of knowing one’s flood risk falls on multiple parties. federal agencies must provide the tools and ensure they’re accessible, but local governments also need to step up and ensure that these tools are being disseminated effectively. meanwhile, citizens must be proactive in seeking out information and taking steps to protect their homes and families.

in the wake of helene’s horrific destruction, north carolina faces a moment of reflection. whether it’s clearer mapping tools, better education, or stronger collaboration between agencies and residents, the state has an opportunity to re-evaluate how its communities prepare for extreme weather. the time to act is before the next flood arrives. 

public resources such as fema’s flood map service center , national flood hazard layer, and floodsmart.gov are places to start in understanding flood maps and personal property.