South Carolina natural disaster risk
South Carolina ranks #35 of 51 from the lowest population-weighted county-score mean in our state comparison. Its highest hazard-score means are ice storm, earthquake, hurricane.
RelocateMath computes these state means by weighting FEMA county scores by population. A mean of county percentiles is not a national state percentile or an official FEMA state rating.
The vertical line marks county-score scale midpoint (50).
Find your county's risk in South Carolina
All 46 county rows with a FEMA score are available below, initially ordered by population.
| County | Population | Risk score | FEMA rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greenville County | 548,166 | 94.0 | Relatively Moderate |
| Richland County | 422,117 | 93.1 | Relatively Moderate |
| Charleston County | 420,264 | 98.6 | Relatively High |
| Horry County | 383,016 | 98.2 | Relatively High |
| Spartanburg County | 347,852 | 90.6 | Relatively Moderate |
| Lexington County | 304,887 | 90.9 | Relatively Moderate |
| York County | 293,673 | 88.7 | Relatively Moderate |
| Berkeley County | 246,802 | 94.8 | Relatively High |
| Anderson County | 210,478 | 87.2 | Relatively Moderate |
| Beaufort County | 195,289 | 97.1 | Relatively High |
| Aiken County | 174,160 | 84.2 | Relatively Moderate |
| Dorchester County | 167,201 | 93.7 | Relatively Moderate |
| Florence County | 137,117 | 89.6 | Relatively Moderate |
| Pickens County | 134,629 | 77.6 | Relatively Low |
| Sumter County | 104,725 | 81.7 | Relatively Moderate |
| Lancaster County | 104,475 | 79.4 | Relatively Low |
| Orangeburg County | 83,253 | 87.7 | Relatively Moderate |
| Oconee County | 80,469 | 85.6 | Relatively Moderate |
| Greenwood County | 69,489 | 72.7 | Relatively Low |
| Laurens County | 68,666 | 76.2 | Relatively Low |
| Kershaw County | 68,314 | 66.7 | Relatively Low |
| Georgetown County | 64,811 | 92.5 | Relatively Moderate |
| Darlington County | 62,558 | 72.3 | Relatively Low |
| Cherokee County | 56,647 | 69.7 | Relatively Low |
| Chesterfield County | 43,784 | 74.0 | Relatively Low |
| Colleton County | 38,783 | 85.5 | Relatively Moderate |
| Newberry County | 38,435 | 62.0 | Relatively Low |
| Chester County | 32,182 | 43.2 | Relatively Low |
| Jasper County | 32,166 | 78.6 | Relatively Low |
| Clarendon County | 30,986 | 76.5 | Relatively Low |
| Williamsburg County | 30,282 | 82.1 | Relatively Moderate |
| Marion County | 28,664 | 80.7 | Relatively Low |
| Dillon County | 27,862 | 84.3 | Relatively Moderate |
| Edgefield County | 27,476 | 22.0 | Very Low |
| Union County | 26,885 | 58.2 | Relatively Low |
| Marlboro County | 25,975 | 57.5 | Relatively Low |
| Abbeville County | 24,420 | 45.4 | Relatively Low |
| Fairfield County | 20,550 | 40.8 | Very Low |
| Barnwell County | 20,521 | 45.8 | Relatively Low |
| Saluda County | 19,131 | 40.1 | Very Low |
| Hampton County | 18,254 | 64.8 | Relatively Low |
| Lee County | 16,166 | 36.0 | Very Low |
| Calhoun County | 14,182 | 22.6 | Very Low |
| Bamberg County | 13,042 | 46.5 | Relatively Low |
| McCormick County | 9,760 | 9.5 | Very Low |
| Allendale County | 7,661 | 35.5 | Very Low |
The county rows show FEMA's own county percentile scores and rating categories; the state figures above are our weighted means. County data cannot establish a property's safety. Expected loss is modeled annual loss per resident, not a premium quote. The insurance figure is what owners with a mortgage reported paying in 2024 (Census American Community Survey), not a current quote. For a specific home, check the address on FEMA's flood map and get insurance quotes before you commit. Our guide explains how to check natural disaster risk before you move.
Lowest FEMA county risk scores in South Carolina
- Edgefield County 22.0
- Fairfield County 40.8
- Chester County 43.2
- Abbeville County 45.4
- Barnwell County 45.8
- Marlboro County 57.5
- Union County 58.2
- Newberry County 62.0
Cities in South Carolina
- Charlotte, NC county-score mean 89.2
- Greenville, SC county-score mean 88.9
- Columbia, SC county-score mean 86.5
- Charleston, SC county-score mean 96.5
- Augusta, GA county-score mean 75.8
- Myrtle Beach, SC county-score mean 98.2
- Spartanburg, SC county-score mean 88.2
- Hilton Head Island, SC county-score mean 94.7
Frequently asked questions
Is South Carolina safe from natural disasters?
South Carolina's population-weighted county-score mean is 87.1 out of 100 (very high county-score mean), #35 of 51 from the lowest mean in our state comparison. A state average cannot show whether an individual home is safe. About 23% of residents live in counties FEMA rates relatively high or very high.
What natural disasters happen in South Carolina?
The highest population-weighted county hazard-score means in South Carolina are ice storm, earthquake, hurricane (means 91, 90, 88 on the 0–100 county-score scale). These are not national state percentiles.
Which counties have the lowest modeled risk scores in South Carolina?
Among counties with at least 20,000 people, the lowest FEMA county risk scores are in Edgefield County, Fairfield County, Chester County. Conditions vary within each county; check an individual address separately.