Berkeley County, South Carolina Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · SC
HighComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 95th
Berkeley County faces high composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 94.8, 95th national percentile), driven primarily by hurricane and earthquake exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $214M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Berkeley County carries a high composite natural disaster risk, with a National Risk Index score of 94.8 out of 100 — placing it in the 95th 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 — $116M in expected annual loss and about 0.32 events per year; earthquake (ground shaking from sudden movement along geologic faults) at Medium risk — $53M in expected annual loss and about 0.01 events per year; and wildfire (uncontrolled fires that spread across wildland and into communities) at Medium risk — $2M in expected annual loss and about 0.00 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $214M in expected annual loss for a population of 229K.
Beyond physical exposure, Berkeley County has a very low 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: Berkeley County has received 30 federal disaster declarations since 1989, including 17 for hurricane events and 4 for severe storm events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in January 2026.
Among 46 South Carolina counties, Berkeley County ranks #4 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Hurricane | Very High | 0.32 / yr | $116M |
| Earthquake | Medium | 0.01 / yr | $53M |
| Wildfire | Medium | 0.00 / yr | $2M |
| Lightning | High | 64.39 / yr | $1M |
| Ice Storm | High | 1.02 / yr | $941K |
| Riverine Flood | Medium | 1.64 / yr | $25M |
| Coastal Flood | Medium | 3.56 / yr | $3M |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.60 / yr | $5M |
| Cold Wave | Medium | 0.81 / yr | $4M |
| Winter Weather | Medium | 1.17 / yr | $219K |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 2.60 / yr | $1M |
| Heat Wave | Low | 9.74 / yr | $1M |
| Hail | Low | 2.75 / yr | $614K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.33 / yr | $2K |
| Drought | Very Low | 10.36 / yr | $7K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Disaster History
Berkeley County has received 30 federal disaster declarations since 1989, most recently Severe Winter Storm in January 2026. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (17), Severe Storm (4), Tropical Storm (3).
| 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 |
| May 2020 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Straight-Line Winds |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
Showing the 10 most recent of 30 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Berkeley County?
Berkeley County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 94.8 out of 100, placing it in the High category and the 95th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Berkeley County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Hurricane (Very High, $116M EAL), Earthquake (Medium, $53M EAL), Wildfire (Medium, $2M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Berkeley County compare to other South Carolina counties?
Berkeley County ranks #4 of 46 South Carolina counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a high rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Berkeley County had?
FEMA records 30 federal disaster declarations for Berkeley County since 1989, most often 17 for hurricane events and 4 for severe 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. Berkeley County's $214M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.