South Carolina Natural Disaster Risk by County
FEMA National Risk Index rankings for all 46 counties
South Carolina spans 46 counties with an average FEMA National Risk Index score of 70.7 (high risk) and roughly $2.99B in combined expected annual loss statewide. 4 counties are rated High or Very High risk.
Topping the rankings is Charleston County (score 98.6, high), while McCormick County (score 9.5) carries the lowest. Use the table below to compare every county by score, top hazard, and expected annual loss.
County Rankings
| # | County | Risk Score | Risk Rating | Top Hazard | Ann. Loss |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charleston County | High | Coastal Flood | $500M | |
| 2 | Horry County | High | Hurricane | $290M | |
| 3 | Beaufort County | High | Hurricane | $256M | |
| 4 | Berkeley County | High | Hurricane | $214M | |
| 5 | Greenville County | Medium | Ice Storm | $169M | |
| 6 | Dorchester County | Medium | Earthquake | $176M | |
| 7 | Richland County | Medium | Ice Storm | $138M | |
| 8 | Georgetown County | Medium | Hurricane | $90M | |
| 9 | Lexington County | Medium | Tornado | $108M | |
| 10 | Spartanburg County | Medium | Ice Storm | $89M | |
| 11 | Florence County | Medium | Hurricane | $65M | |
| 12 | York County | Medium | Ice Storm | $99M | |
| 13 | Orangeburg County | Medium | Earthquake | $44M | |
| 14 | Anderson County | Medium | Cold Wave | $67M | |
| 15 | Oconee County | Medium | Cold Wave | $45M | |
| 16 | Colleton County | Medium | Hurricane | $38M | |
| 17 | Dillon County | Medium | Hurricane | $35M | |
| 18 | Aiken County | Medium | Ice Storm | $48M | |
| 19 | Williamsburg County | Medium | Hurricane | $30M | |
| 20 | Sumter County | Medium | Hurricane | $41M | |
| 21 | Marion County | Low | Hurricane | $27M | |
| 22 | Lancaster County | Low | Ice Storm | $40M | |
| 23 | Jasper County | Low | Hurricane | $29M | |
| 24 | Pickens County | Low | Ice Storm | $37M | |
| 25 | Clarendon County | Low | Hurricane | $23M | |
| 26 | Laurens County | Low | Cold Wave | $27M | |
| 27 | Chesterfield County | Low | Hurricane | $22M | |
| 28 | Greenwood County | Low | Cold Wave | $27M | |
| 29 | Darlington County | Low | Hurricane | $22M | |
| 30 | Cherokee County | Low | Ice Storm | $23M | |
| 31 | Kershaw County | Low | Strong Wind | $23M | |
| 32 | Hampton County | Low | Hurricane | $15M | |
| 33 | Newberry County | Low | Ice Storm | $17M | |
| 34 | Union County | Low | Ice Storm | $13M | |
| 35 | Marlboro County | Low | Ice Storm | $11M | |
| 36 | Bamberg County | Low | Hurricane | $9M | |
| 37 | Barnwell County | Low | Hurricane | $8M | |
| 38 | Abbeville County | Low | Ice Storm | $10M | |
| 39 | Chester County | Low | Ice Storm | $11M | |
| 40 | Fairfield County | Very Low | Ice Storm | $8M | |
| 41 | Saluda County | Very Low | Hurricane | $8M | |
| 42 | Lee County | Very Low | Hurricane | $8M | |
| 43 | Allendale County | Very Low | Hurricane | $7M | |
| 44 | Calhoun County | Very Low | Hurricane | $6M | |
| 45 | Edgefield County | Very Low | Hurricane | $7M | |
| 46 | McCormick County | Very Low | Hurricane | $3M |
All 46 South Carolina counties, ranked by FEMA National Risk Index score.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which South Carolina county has the highest natural disaster risk?
Charleston County has the highest FEMA National Risk Index score in South Carolina at 98.6 (High), driven largely by coastal flood.
What is the average natural disaster risk in South Carolina?
South Carolina counties average a National Risk Index score of 70.7 across 46 counties, with 4 rated High or Very High risk.
How much are expected annual losses across South Carolina?
FEMA estimates roughly $2.99B in combined expected annual loss from natural hazards across all South Carolina counties.