Horry County, South Carolina Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · SC
HighComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 98th
Horry County faces high composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 98.2, 98th national percentile), driven primarily by hurricane and tornado exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $290M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Horry County carries a high composite natural disaster risk, with a National Risk Index score of 98.2 out of 100 — placing it in the 98th 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 — $200M in expected annual loss and about 0.30 events per year; tornado (violently rotating columns of air capable of catastrophic local damage) at High risk — $14M in expected annual loss and about 0.61 events per year; and earthquake (ground shaking from sudden movement along geologic faults) at Medium risk — $15M in expected annual loss and about 0.00 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $290M in expected annual loss for a population of 349K.
Beyond physical exposure, Horry County has a 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 federal record bears this out: Horry County has received 34 federal disaster declarations since 1989, including 18 for hurricane events and 4 for fire events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in January 2026.
Among 46 South Carolina counties, Horry County ranks #2 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Hurricane | Very High | 0.30 / yr | $200M |
| Tornado | High | 0.61 / yr | $14M |
| Earthquake | Medium | 0.00 / yr | $15M |
| Lightning | High | 58.88 / yr | $2M |
| Winter Weather | High | 1.32 / yr | $661K |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 9.21 / yr | $5M |
| Ice Storm | High | 0.63 / yr | $1M |
| Riverine Flood | Medium | 1.96 / yr | $40M |
| Wildfire | Medium | 0.00 / yr | $1M |
| Cold Wave | Medium | 0.47 / yr | $5M |
| Coastal Flood | High | 3.57 / yr | $4M |
| Strong Wind | High | 2.83 / yr | $1M |
| Drought | Low | 10.34 / yr | $110K |
| Hail | Low | 2.69 / yr | $176K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.17 / yr | $563 |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Disaster History
Horry County has received 34 federal disaster declarations since 1989, most recently Severe Winter Storm in January 2026. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (18), Fire (4), Tropical Storm (3).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| January 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| March 2025 | Fire | Covington Drive Fire |
| 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 |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
Showing the 10 most recent of 34 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Horry County?
Horry County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 98.2 out of 100, placing it in the High category and the 98th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Horry County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Hurricane (Very High, $200M EAL), Tornado (High, $14M EAL), Earthquake (Medium, $15M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Horry County compare to other South Carolina counties?
Horry County ranks #2 of 46 South Carolina counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a high rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Horry County had?
FEMA records 34 federal disaster declarations for Horry County since 1989, most often 18 for hurricane events and 4 for fire 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. Horry County's $290M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.