Anderson County, South Carolina Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · SC
MediumComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 87th
Anderson County faces medium composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 87.2, 87th national percentile), driven primarily by cold wave and ice storm exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $67M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Anderson County at medium composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 87.2 out of 100 — placing it in the 87th national percentile and near the national midpoint for natural-disaster risk. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
Risk here concentrates in cold wave (prolonged spells of dangerously low temperatures) at High risk — $13M in expected annual loss and about 0.21 events per year; ice storm (freezing rain that coats surfaces in heavy, damaging ice) at Very High risk — $2M in expected annual loss and about 1.67 events per year; and lightning (electrical discharges from storms that ignite fires and cause casualties) at High risk — $2M in expected annual loss and about 55.61 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $67M in expected annual loss for a population of 204K.
Beyond physical exposure, Anderson County has a low social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a medium community resilience rating (its capacity to prepare for and recover from disasters). Both measures sit toward the lower end, indicating relatively modest population sensitivity.
The county's disaster history tells the same story: Anderson County has received 21 federal disaster declarations since 1977, including 10 for hurricane events and 2 for tropical storm events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in January 2026.
Among 46 South Carolina counties, Anderson County ranks #14 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Cold Wave | High | 0.21 / yr | $13M |
| Ice Storm | Very High | 1.67 / yr | $2M |
| Lightning | High | 55.61 / yr | $2M |
| Tornado | High | 0.44 / yr | $8M |
| Strong Wind | High | 2.50 / yr | $2M |
| Riverine Flood | Medium | 1.54 / yr | $33M |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $4M |
| Hail | Medium | 4.44 / yr | $1M |
| Heat Wave | Low | 1.85 / yr | $1M |
| Hurricane | Low | 0.06 / yr | $1M |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.59 / yr | $3K |
| Drought | Low | 44.02 / yr | $153K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $42K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 3.32 / yr | $40K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Disaster History
Anderson County has received 21 federal disaster declarations since 1977, most recently Severe Winter Storm in January 2026. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (10), Tropical Storm (2), Biological (2).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| January 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| September 2024 | Hurricane | Hurricane Helene |
| September 2024 | Tropical Storm | Hurricane Helene |
| August 2024 | Tropical Storm | Hurricane Debby |
| August 2023 | Hurricane | Hurricane Idalia |
| November 2022 | Hurricane | Hurricane Ian |
| September 2022 | Hurricane | Hurricane Ian |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
Showing the 10 most recent of 21 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Anderson County?
Anderson County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 87.2 out of 100, placing it in the Medium category and the 87th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Anderson County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Cold Wave (High, $13M EAL), Ice Storm (Very High, $2M EAL), Lightning (High, $2M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Anderson County compare to other South Carolina counties?
Anderson County ranks #14 of 46 South Carolina counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a medium rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Anderson County had?
FEMA records 21 federal disaster declarations for Anderson County since 1977, most often 10 for hurricane events and 2 for tropical storm events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm, declared in January 2026.
What does Expected Annual Loss (EAL) mean?
EAL is FEMA's estimate of average annual dollar losses from natural hazards, calculated from historical event data and exposure models. Anderson County's $67M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.