Fairfield County, South Carolina Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · SC
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 41th
Fairfield County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 40.8, 41th national percentile), driven primarily by ice storm and hurricane exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $8M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Fairfield County carries a very low composite natural disaster risk, with a National Risk Index score of 40.8 out of 100 — placing it in the 41st national percentile and among the lowest-risk counties in the country. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
Risk here concentrates in ice storm (freezing rain that coats surfaces in heavy, damaging ice) at High risk — $475K in expected annual loss and about 1.88 events per year; hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at Low risk — $684K in expected annual loss and about 0.14 events per year; and tornado (violently rotating columns of air capable of catastrophic local damage) at Medium risk — $2M in expected annual loss and about 0.50 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $8M in expected annual loss for a population of 21K.
Beyond physical exposure, Fairfield County has a very high 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). That combination — a more vulnerable population with limited resilience — can amplify the human cost of any given event.
The county's disaster history tells the same story: Fairfield County has received 23 federal disaster declarations since 1984, including 12 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, Fairfield County ranks #40 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Ice Storm | High | 1.88 / yr | $475K |
| Hurricane | Low | 0.14 / yr | $684K |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.50 / yr | $2M |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $504K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 2.89 / yr | $587K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 1.33 / yr | $1K |
| Lightning | Low | 55.19 / yr | $175K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 5.33 / yr | $364K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $24K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 0.14 / yr | $4M |
| Cold Wave | Low | 0.32 / yr | $329K |
| Hail | Very Low | 4.29 / yr | $87K |
| Drought | Very Low | 25.00 / yr | $12K |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 2.32 / yr | $12K |
| 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
Fairfield County has received 23 federal disaster declarations since 1984, most recently Severe Winter Storm in January 2026. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (12), 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 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| September 2019 | Hurricane | Hurricane Dorian |
Showing the 10 most recent of 23 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Fairfield County?
Fairfield County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 40.8 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 41th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Fairfield County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Ice Storm (High, $475K EAL), Hurricane (Low, $684K EAL), Tornado (Medium, $2M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Fairfield County compare to other South Carolina counties?
Fairfield County ranks #40 of 46 South Carolina counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Fairfield County had?
FEMA records 23 federal disaster declarations for Fairfield County since 1984, most often 12 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. Fairfield County's $8M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.