Beaufort County, South Carolina Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · SC
HighComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 97th
Beaufort County faces high composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 97.1, 97th national percentile), driven primarily by hurricane and lightning exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $256M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Beaufort County at high composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 97.1 out of 100 — placing it in the 97th national percentile and in the upper tier of natural-disaster risk nationally. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
The county's risk is driven primarily by hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at Very High risk — $201M in expected annual loss and about 0.34 events per year; lightning (electrical discharges from storms that ignite fires and cause casualties) at High risk — $2M in expected annual loss and about 63.39 events per year; and coastal flood (seawater inundation from storm surge, high tides, and rising sea levels) at High risk — $10M in expected annual loss and about 3.68 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $256M in expected annual loss for a population of 187K.
Beyond physical exposure, Beaufort County has a medium social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a high community resilience rating (its capacity to prepare for and recover from disasters). A less vulnerable population paired with strong resilience helps the community absorb and recover from events.
The federal record bears this out: Beaufort County has received 24 federal disaster declarations since 1977, including 14 for hurricane events and 3 for tropical storm events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in January 2026.
Among 46 South Carolina counties, Beaufort County ranks #3 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Hurricane | Very High | 0.34 / yr | $201M |
| Lightning | High | 63.39 / yr | $2M |
| Coastal Flood | High | 3.68 / yr | $10M |
| Earthquake | Medium | 0.00 / yr | $10M |
| Wildfire | Medium | 0.00 / yr | $1M |
| Ice Storm | High | 0.64 / yr | $747K |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 10.23 / yr | $2M |
| Strong Wind | High | 1.56 / yr | $2M |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.34 / yr | $4M |
| Riverine Flood | Medium | 0.93 / yr | $20M |
| Cold Wave | Medium | 0.63 / yr | $2M |
| Winter Weather | Medium | 0.84 / yr | $124K |
| Hail | Low | 2.25 / yr | $507K |
| Drought | Low | 21.68 / yr | $87K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.10 / yr | $202 |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Disaster History
Beaufort County has received 24 federal disaster declarations since 1977, most recently Severe Winter Storm in January 2026. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (14), Tropical Storm (3), Biological (2).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| January 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| September 2024 | Tropical Storm | Tropical Storm Debby |
| 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 | Biological | Covid-19 |
Showing the 10 most recent of 24 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Beaufort County?
Beaufort County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 97.1 out of 100, placing it in the High category and the 97th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Beaufort County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Hurricane (Very High, $201M EAL), Lightning (High, $2M EAL), Coastal Flood (High, $10M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Beaufort County compare to other South Carolina counties?
Beaufort County ranks #3 of 46 South Carolina counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a high rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Beaufort County had?
FEMA records 24 federal disaster declarations for Beaufort County since 1977, most often 14 for hurricane events and 3 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. Beaufort County's $256M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.