Orangeburg County, South Carolina Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · SC
MediumComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 88th
Orangeburg County faces medium composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 87.7, 88th national percentile), driven primarily by earthquake and hurricane exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $44M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Orangeburg County carries a medium composite natural disaster risk, with a National Risk Index score of 87.7 out of 100 — placing it in the 88th 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 earthquake (ground shaking from sudden movement along geologic faults) at Medium risk — $11M in expected annual loss and about 0.00 events per year; hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at High risk — $15M in expected annual loss and about 0.25 events per year; and strong wind (damaging straight-line winds outside of tornadoes and hurricanes) at High risk — $2M in expected annual loss and about 4.71 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $44M in expected annual loss for a population of 84K.
Beyond physical exposure, Orangeburg 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: Orangeburg County has received 31 federal disaster declarations since 1977, including 15 for hurricane events and 3 for flood events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in January 2026.
Among 46 South Carolina counties, Orangeburg County ranks #13 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Earthquake | Medium | 0.00 / yr | $11M |
| Hurricane | High | 0.25 / yr | $15M |
| Strong Wind | High | 4.71 / yr | $2M |
| Ice Storm | High | 1.08 / yr | $481K |
| Lightning | High | 62.87 / yr | $634K |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 5.00 / yr | $1M |
| Wildfire | Low | 0.00 / yr | $261K |
| Hail | Medium | 3.48 / yr | $466K |
| Riverine Flood | Medium | 0.79 / yr | $11M |
| Drought | Medium | 13.70 / yr | $454K |
| Cold Wave | Medium | 0.21 / yr | $2M |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.76 / yr | $1M |
| Winter Weather | Medium | 1.37 / yr | $68K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.27 / yr | $725 |
| 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
Orangeburg County has received 31 federal disaster declarations since 1977, most recently Severe Winter Storm in January 2026. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (15), Flood (3), Tropical Storm (3).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| January 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| January 2025 | Flood | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| September 2024 | Hurricane | Hurricane Helene |
| 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 |
Showing the 10 most recent of 31 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Orangeburg County?
Orangeburg County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 87.7 out of 100, placing it in the Medium category and the 88th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Orangeburg County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Earthquake (Medium, $11M EAL), Hurricane (High, $15M EAL), Strong Wind (High, $2M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Orangeburg County compare to other South Carolina counties?
Orangeburg County ranks #13 of 46 South Carolina counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a medium rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Orangeburg County had?
FEMA records 31 federal disaster declarations for Orangeburg County since 1977, most often 15 for hurricane events and 3 for flood 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. Orangeburg County's $44M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.