Georgetown County, South Carolina Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · SC
MediumComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 92th
Georgetown County faces medium composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 92.5, 92th national percentile), driven primarily by hurricane and lightning exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $90M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Georgetown County at medium composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 92.5 out of 100 — placing it in the 92nd national percentile and near the national midpoint for natural-disaster risk. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
Risk here concentrates in hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at Very High risk — $64M in expected annual loss and about 0.33 events per year; lightning (electrical discharges from storms that ignite fires and cause casualties) at High risk — $2M in expected annual loss and about 60.09 events per year; and earthquake (ground shaking from sudden movement along geologic faults) at Medium risk — $5M in expected annual loss and about 0.00 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $90M in expected annual loss for a population of 63K.
Beyond physical exposure, Georgetown County has a very high 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). Higher vulnerability is partly offset by strong community resilience and recovery capacity.
The county's disaster history tells the same story: Georgetown County has received 30 federal disaster declarations since 1989, including 17 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, Georgetown County ranks #8 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Hurricane | Very High | 0.33 / yr | $64M |
| Lightning | High | 60.09 / yr | $2M |
| Earthquake | Medium | 0.00 / yr | $5M |
| Wildfire | Medium | 0.00 / yr | $1M |
| Coastal Flood | High | 3.41 / yr | $3M |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 9.17 / yr | $1M |
| Ice Storm | Medium | 0.72 / yr | $230K |
| Riverine Flood | Medium | 1.07 / yr | $12M |
| Tornado | Low | 0.39 / yr | $1M |
| Winter Weather | Low | 1.00 / yr | $55K |
| Hail | Low | 2.47 / yr | $210K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 0.47 / yr | $692K |
| Drought | Very Low | 9.50 / yr | $14K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 2.13 / yr | $190K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.14 / yr | $37 |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Disaster History
Georgetown County has received 30 federal disaster declarations since 1989, most recently Severe Winter Storm in January 2026. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (17), Tropical Storm (3), Severe Storm (3).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| January 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| September 2024 | Tropical Storm | Tropical Storm Debby |
| 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 |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
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 Georgetown County?
Georgetown County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 92.5 out of 100, placing it in the Medium category and the 92th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Georgetown County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Hurricane (Very High, $64M EAL), Lightning (High, $2M EAL), Earthquake (Medium, $5M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Georgetown County compare to other South Carolina counties?
Georgetown County ranks #8 of 46 South Carolina counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a medium rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Georgetown County had?
FEMA records 30 federal disaster declarations for Georgetown County since 1989, most often 17 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. Georgetown County's $90M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.