Earthquake Risk in South Carolina
All South Carolina counties ranked by FEMA National Risk Index earthquake score
Earthquake risk — ground shaking from sudden movement along geologic faults — is rated for 46 of 46 South Carolina counties in FEMA's National Risk Index. Charleston County carries the state's highest earthquake score at 98.8, with $118M in expected annual earthquake losses.
1 South Carolina county is rated High or Very High for earthquake, and expected annual losses from earthquake total roughly $374M statewide. The full ranking below links to each county's complete 18-hazard risk profile.
County Rankings — Earthquake
| # | County | Earthquake Score | Rating | Ann. Freq. | Ann. Loss |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charleston County | High | 0.01 / yr | $118M | |
| 2 | Dorchester County | Medium | 0.01 / yr | $58M | |
| 3 | Berkeley County | Medium | 0.01 / yr | $53M | |
| 4 | Horry County | Medium | 0.00 / yr | $15M | |
| 5 | Orangeburg County | Medium | 0.00 / yr | $11M | |
| 6 | Richland County | Medium | 0.00 / yr | $11M | |
| 7 | Colleton County | Medium | 0.01 / yr | $7M | |
| 8 | Beaufort County | Medium | 0.00 / yr | $10M | |
| 9 | Greenville County | Medium | 0.00 / yr | $9M | |
| 10 | Florence County | Medium | 0.00 / yr | $7M | |
| 11 | Williamsburg County | Medium | 0.00 / yr | $5M | |
| 12 | Spartanburg County | Medium | 0.00 / yr | $7M | |
| 13 | Georgetown County | Medium | 0.00 / yr | $5M | |
| 14 | Lexington County | Medium | 0.00 / yr | $8M | |
| 15 | Sumter County | Medium | 0.00 / yr | $6M | |
| 16 | Aiken County | Low | 0.00 / yr | $4M | |
| 17 | Clarendon County | Low | 0.00 / yr | $3M | |
| 18 | Anderson County | Low | 0.00 / yr | $4M | |
| 19 | Darlington County | Low | 0.00 / yr | $2M | |
| 20 | Dillon County | Low | 0.00 / yr | $2M | |
| 21 | York County | Low | 0.00 / yr | $4M | |
| 22 | Greenwood County | Low | 0.00 / yr | $2M | |
| 23 | Pickens County | Low | 0.00 / yr | $2M | |
| 24 | Hampton County | Low | 0.00 / yr | $1M | |
| 25 | Jasper County | Low | 0.00 / yr | $2M | |
| 26 | Kershaw County | Low | 0.00 / yr | $2M | |
| 27 | Newberry County | Low | 0.00 / yr | $2M | |
| 28 | Lancaster County | Low | 0.00 / yr | $2M | |
| 29 | Laurens County | Low | 0.00 / yr | $2M | |
| 30 | Barnwell County | Low | 0.00 / yr | $999K | |
| 31 | Oconee County | Low | 0.00 / yr | $1M | |
| 32 | Marion County | Low | 0.00 / yr | $1M | |
| 33 | Bamberg County | Low | 0.00 / yr | $973K | |
| 34 | Chesterfield County | Low | 0.00 / yr | $953K | |
| 35 | Allendale County | Low | 0.00 / yr | $811K | |
| 36 | Abbeville County | Low | 0.00 / yr | $786K | |
| 37 | Cherokee County | Low | 0.00 / yr | $886K | |
| 38 | Union County | Low | 0.00 / yr | $668K | |
| 39 | Marlboro County | Low | 0.00 / yr | $557K | |
| 40 | Calhoun County | Low | 0.00 / yr | $728K | |
| 41 | Lee County | Low | 0.00 / yr | $620K | |
| 42 | Chester County | Low | 0.00 / yr | $690K | |
| 43 | Fairfield County | Low | 0.00 / yr | $504K | |
| 44 | Edgefield County | Low | 0.00 / yr | $619K | |
| 45 | Saluda County | Low | 0.00 / yr | $437K | |
| 46 | McCormick County | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $177K |
46 South Carolina counties with measurable earthquake risk. See the national earthquake ranking or all South Carolina counties by overall risk.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which South Carolina county has the highest earthquake risk?
Charleston County has the highest FEMA earthquake risk score in South Carolina at 98.8 (High), with $118M in expected annual losses and about 0.01 events per year.
How many South Carolina counties face significant earthquake risk?
46 South Carolina counties record measurable earthquake risk in FEMA's National Risk Index; 1 of them are rated High or Very High.