Drought Risk in South Carolina
All South Carolina counties ranked by FEMA National Risk Index drought score
Drought risk — extended dry periods that stress water supplies and agriculture — is rated for 45 of 46 South Carolina counties in FEMA's National Risk Index. Orangeburg County carries the state's highest drought score at 75.4, with $454K in expected annual drought losses.
No South Carolina county reaches the High band for drought, and expected annual losses from drought total roughly $6M statewide. The full ranking below links to each county's complete 18-hazard risk profile.
County Rankings — Drought
| # | County | Drought Score | Rating | Ann. Freq. | Ann. Loss |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Orangeburg County | Medium | 13.70 / yr | $454K | |
| 2 | York County | Medium | 26.61 / yr | $599K | |
| 3 | Hampton County | Medium | 25.53 / yr | $279K | |
| 4 | Edgefield County | Low | 47.45 / yr | $319K | |
| 5 | Lexington County | Low | 18.60 / yr | $398K | |
| 6 | Saluda County | Low | 40.63 / yr | $210K | |
| 7 | Spartanburg County | Low | 40.69 / yr | $294K | |
| 8 | Calhoun County | Low | 14.07 / yr | $217K | |
| 9 | Aiken County | Low | 30.88 / yr | $236K | |
| 10 | Allendale County | Low | 31.86 / yr | $148K | |
| 11 | Bamberg County | Low | 22.05 / yr | $141K | |
| 12 | Barnwell County | Low | 27.33 / yr | $116K | |
| 13 | Chesterfield County | Low | 21.35 / yr | $139K | |
| 14 | Darlington County | Low | 17.74 / yr | $141K | |
| 15 | Marlboro County | Low | 19.62 / yr | $91K | |
| 16 | Clarendon County | Low | 11.45 / yr | $100K | |
| 17 | Anderson County | Low | 44.02 / yr | $153K | |
| 18 | Laurens County | Low | 41.39 / yr | $113K | |
| 19 | Cherokee County | Low | 33.31 / yr | $116K | |
| 20 | Colleton County | Low | 21.96 / yr | $93K | |
| 21 | Florence County | Low | 15.11 / yr | $109K | |
| 22 | Lee County | Low | 16.00 / yr | $89K | |
| 23 | Horry County | Low | 10.34 / yr | $110K | |
| 24 | Greenville County | Low | 42.13 / yr | $149K | |
| 25 | Sumter County | Low | 13.44 / yr | $110K | |
| 26 | Jasper County | Low | 24.52 / yr | $87K | |
| 27 | Dillon County | Low | 14.73 / yr | $79K | |
| 28 | Oconee County | Low | 41.73 / yr | $85K | |
| 29 | Williamsburg County | Low | 11.10 / yr | $68K | |
| 30 | Beaufort County | Low | 21.68 / yr | $87K | |
| 31 | Newberry County | Low | 36.57 / yr | $69K | |
| 32 | Chester County | Low | 26.64 / yr | $57K | |
| 33 | Richland County | Low | 15.16 / yr | $61K | |
| 34 | Pickens County | Low | 40.96 / yr | $54K | |
| 35 | Marion County | Low | 15.00 / yr | $29K | |
| 36 | Abbeville County | Low | 54.97 / yr | $31K | |
| 37 | Charleston County | Low | 15.28 / yr | $50K | |
| 38 | Greenwood County | Low | 48.32 / yr | $32K | |
| 39 | Lancaster County | Very Low | 20.66 / yr | $26K | |
| 40 | Georgetown County | Very Low | 9.50 / yr | $14K | |
| 41 | Dorchester County | Very Low | 15.41 / yr | $22K | |
| 42 | Fairfield County | Very Low | 25.00 / yr | $12K | |
| 43 | Union County | Very Low | 33.80 / yr | $11K | |
| 44 | Kershaw County | Very Low | 20.15 / yr | $9K | |
| 45 | Berkeley County | Very Low | 10.36 / yr | $7K |
45 South Carolina counties with measurable drought risk. See the national drought ranking or all South Carolina counties by overall risk.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which South Carolina county has the highest drought risk?
Orangeburg County has the highest FEMA drought risk score in South Carolina at 75.4 (Medium), with $454K in expected annual losses and about 13.70 events per year.
How many South Carolina counties face significant drought risk?
45 South Carolina counties record measurable drought risk in FEMA's National Risk Index; 0 of them are rated High or Very High.