Hurricane, flood and water damage help in Murraysville

Centered on the junction of Murrayville Road and NC Highway 132, Murraysville sits only about 33 feet above sea level in New Hanover County. It was first counted as a census-designated place in 2000 and has more than doubled since then, reaching about 16,600 residents and some 7,300 housing units by 2020.

When a hurricane, burst pipe or fire leaves your home damaged, call (866) 937-3230. Fire & Water Energy operates only as a referral service for New Hanover County callers and does not do the hands-on work. We try to connect you with an independent contractor working in the Wilmington area, subject to who is free at the time. Our how it works page and referral disclosure tell you what to expect from the call.

Ten declarations and the lessons of Florence

FEMA's list for New Hanover County since 2000 reads like a hurricane roster: Isabel (2003), Ophelia (2005), Tropical Storm Hanna (2008), Severe Storms, Flooding, and Straight-line Winds (2010), Irene (2011), Matthew (2016), Florence (2018), Dorian (2019), Isaias (2020) and Potential Tropical Cyclone Eight (2024).

Florence was the hardest test. The National Weather Service reports it came ashore at Wrightsville Beach on September 14, 2018, and Wilmington International Airport measured 23.02 inches of rain and a 105 mph gust. Crews made 350 water rescues in the Wrightsboro and Ogden communities, both close neighbors of Murraysville. Every road into the county, including I-40, was cut off for days, and more than 90 percent of the county lost power, with full restoration taking over 10 days.

Water intrusion in low-lying coastal plain homes

At such a low elevation, wind-driven rain and pooled runoff are frequent problems: water forced under doors and windows, through soffits and around roof flashing. Inside, failing water heaters, appliance hoses and AC condensate lines are common sources, especially when the air conditioning runs most of the year.

For water damage restoration in Murraysville, a typical contractor will stop the source, extract water, remove wet baseboards or padding, and dry with dehumidifiers and air movers until moisture readings stabilize. Related pages: water damage restoration, emergency water removal and structural drying.

Federal disaster declarations that included New Hanover County

FEMA records show New Hanover County was included in 10 major disaster declarations for weather or fire events from 2000 through 2026 (7 hurricane, 2 severe storm, 1 tropical storm, by FEMA incident type). Declarations are made at the county level, so they do not mean every neighborhood in Murraysville was affected. The most recent:

• 2024 – Potential Tropical Cyclone Eight (DR-4837)
• 2020 – Hurricane Isaias (DR-4568)
• 2019 – Hurricane Dorian (DR-4465)
• 2018 – Hurricane Florence (DR-4393)
• 2016 – Hurricane Matthew (DR-4285)
• 2011 – Hurricane Irene (DR-4019)

Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, retrieved 2026-10-10. Counts include major disaster (DR) declarations with hurricane, flood, severe storm, tropical storm, fire, tornado, coastal storm, winter or ice storm, mudslide and dam/levee incident types.

Generators, outages and fire risk

After Florence knocked out power for more than 10 days across much of the county, many households relied on generators, grills and candles. Those are leading causes of fires and carbon monoxide poisoning after storms. Keep generators outdoors and far from windows.

If fire does strike, a reputable restoration company will usually board up openings, remove burned materials, clean soot and run odor treatments, while also drying out water from firefighting. The fire damage cleanup and smoke damage cleanup pages outline what a homeowner near NC 132 should expect.

Floodwater, sewage overflows and storm debris

Florence showed how quickly heavy rain can overwhelm drainage here: the NWS describes widespread flash flooding on September 14 and 15, with the Northchase area seeing up to three feet of water inside homes and more than 22 million gallons of untreated sewage spilling into waterways. Floodwater like that is Category 3 contaminated water and needs careful handling.

Contractors commonly remove soaked drywall, insulation and flooring, disinfect surfaces and dry framing before rebuilding. Fallen trees and torn roofs are the other half of hurricane cleanup. Learn about hurricane damage cleanup and flood cleanup.

Coastal humidity and mold

In a warm, humid coastal climate, mold can appear within a day or two on wet drywall and carpet. After a long power outage, homes sit closed up without air conditioning, which speeds growth.

EPA guidance says homeowners can generally clean areas under about 10 square feet, but larger growth, or any mold after sewage-contaminated flooding, should go to a remediation professional. Read about mold remediation and sewage cleanup.

Hurricane-season checklist for Murraysville

• Call 911 for fire, injuries, gas leaks, downed lines or anyone trapped by water.
• Follow New Hanover County emergency management orders on evacuation and re-entry.
• Never drive or walk through floodwater; Florence-level flooding closed every main route into the county.
• Before tearing anything out, record the damage with dated photos and keep samples of ruined flooring if your adjuster asks.
• Ask your agent whether you have separate flood coverage; wind, flood and water damage are often handled differently depending on your policy.

Neighborhoods and nearby communities

Nearby communities with their own pages (straight-line distance from Murraysville):

• Wilmington · 7 mi
• Myrtle Grove · 11 mi
• Leland · 12 mi
• Jacksonville · 40 mi
• Piney Green · 42 mi
• Half Moon · 43 mi

Restoration guides

• Hurricane Damage Cleanup
• Flood Cleanup
• Emergency Water Removal
• Sewage Cleanup
• Mold Remediation
• Fire Damage Cleanup

Local resources for Murraysville residents

• NWS Wilmington: Hurricane Florence
• FEMA: Hurricane Florence (DR-4393)

Sources

• Wikipedia: Murraysville, North Carolina
• NWS Wilmington: Hurricane Florence
• FEMA: DR-4393

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