South Carolina flood insurance and flood history
From FEMA's flood insurance and disaster data · Updated 2026-10-08
FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) data lists 49,622 flood insurance claims in South Carolina since 1978. The NFIP paid $1.0 billion on them (building, contents and Increased Cost of Compliance payments, in the dollars of the year paid).
The year with the most claims was 1989, with 14,879, mostly from Hurricane Hugo.
In the last ten years (2017–2026) there were 8,344 claims, and the average paid claim was $41,440.
18% of the claims with a recorded flood zone came from buildings outside FEMA's high-risk zones (rated zones B, C and X).
About 6.1% of homes in South Carolina had an NFIP flood policy in FEMA's latest count (121,413 of 1,976,591 residential buildings). In the high-risk flood zones (Special Flood Hazard Areas), it was 85% (66,329 of 78,001).
Since 2000, FEMA has made 9 flood-related disaster declarations covering parts of South Carolina. The most recent was DR-4858-SC (Severe Storms and Flooding), declared January 10, 2025.
Flood insurance claims in South Carolina by year
Show as a table
| Year | Claims | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 19 | $149,328 |
| 2025 | 91 | $2.1 million |
| 2024 | 899 | $26.2 million |
| 2023 | 541 | $14.1 million |
| 2022 | 1,245 | $48.9 million |
| 2021 | 277 | $5.0 million |
| 2020 | 781 | $15.0 million |
| 2019 | 227 | $2.2 million |
| 2018 | 1,699 | $109.4 million |
| 2017 | 2,565 | $57.3 million |
| 2016 | 7,265 | $169.4 million |
| 2015 | 5,710 | $147.0 million |
| 2014 | 140 | $1.7 million |
| 2013 | 289 | $3.4 million |
| 2012 | 146 | $1.7 million |
| 2011 | 105 | $1.3 million |
| 2010 | 130 | $1.2 million |
| 2009 | 167 | $1.1 million |
| 2008 | 245 | $4.8 million |
| 2007 | 55 | $315,792 |
| 2006 | 50 | $408,379 |
| 2005 | 233 | $2.2 million |
| 2004 | 401 | $5.7 million |
| 2003 | 177 | $1.2 million |
| 2002 | 172 | $1.2 million |
| 2001 | 150 | $1.8 million |
| 2000 | 172 | $1.3 million |
| 1999 | 2,346 | $21.9 million |
| 1998 | 1,018 | $3.1 million |
| 1997 | 228 | $1.2 million |
| 1996 | 1,175 | $3.3 million |
| 1995 | 319 | $2.2 million |
| 1994 | 1,322 | $5.9 million |
| 1993 | 294 | $1.2 million |
| 1992 | 139 | $519,104 |
| 1991 | 105 | $292,500 |
| 1990 | 203 | $643,618 |
| 1989 | 14,879 | $361.9 million |
| 1988 | 155 | $335,136 |
| 1987 | 1,579 | $5.7 million |
| 1986 | 256 | $1.2 million |
| 1985 | 134 | $216,311 |
| 1984 | 87 | $213,188 |
| 1983 | 168 | $440,796 |
| 1982 | 189 | $215,227 |
| 1981 | 106 | $90,348 |
| 1980 | 52 | $48,957 |
| 1979 | 891 | $1.6 million |
| 1978 | 26 | $12,688 |
Biggest flood events by NFIP payments
The flood events FEMA's claims data names most often for South Carolina, ranked by what the NFIP paid. FEMA names events in its claims records; claims without an event name aren't included here.
| Event | Year | Claims | Paid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Hugo | 1989 | 14,728 | $361.1 million |
| Hurricane Matthew | 2016 | 7,000 | $167.4 million |
| October severe storms | 2015 | 5,279 | $141.5 million |
| Hurricane Florence | 2018 | 1,404 | $105.4 million |
| Hurricane Irma | 2017 | 2,363 | $56.1 million |
| Hurricane Ian | 2022 | 1,073 | $43.8 million |
| Hurricane Floyd | 1999 | 2,049 | $19.6 million |
| Hurricane Helene | 2024 | 369 | $10.2 million |
| Hurricane Debby | 2024 | 288 | $8.8 million |
| December Nor'easter | 2023 | 322 | $8.7 million |
What flood insurance costs in South Carolina
On June 30, 2026, 190,006 NFIP flood insurance policies were in force in South Carolina. For the 110,087 single-family homes among them, the typical (median) yearly cost was about $940; the average was $1,150.
| Rated flood zone | Policies | Typical yearly cost, single-family home | Average cost | Average building coverage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High-risk zones (A and V) | 109,854 | $1,090 | $1,460 | $240,000 |
| Moderate- and low-risk zones (B, C and X) | 80,152 | $710 | $790 | $241,000 |
Cost here is what FEMA's data lists as the policy cost: the premium plus the reserve fund assessment, federal policy fee and HFIAA surcharge. It covers single-family homes only (not condos, apartments or businesses), with costs rounded to the nearest $10 and shown only where at least 20 homes back the figure. Your own price depends on your building and the coverage you choose; see how flood insurance is priced. Private flood insurance isn't included.
Policies and average cost by exact flood zone
Flood history by county
Every South Carolina county in FEMA's data, sorted by number of NFIP claims since 1978. "Insured" is the share of homes with an NFIP policy; "typical NFIP cost" is the median yearly cost for single-family homes.
| County | Claims | Paid | Insured | Typical NFIP cost | Flood declarations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston County | 19,289 | $312.2 million | 31.7% | $1,010 | 5 |
| Horry County | 12,525 | $338.2 million | 14.6% | $640 | 6 |
| Beaufort County | 4,968 | $80.8 million | 39.7% | $940 | 7 |
| Georgetown County | 4,748 | $114.6 million | 20.7% | $1,110 | 6 |
| Richland County | 1,360 | $60.5 million | 1.3% | $890 | 6 |
| Greenville County | 857 | $14.7 million | 0.6% | $960 | 7 |
| Dorchester County | 779 | $16.9 million | 5.0% | $810 | 6 |
| Colleton County | 766 | $7.2 million | 8.1% | $1,260 | 7 |
| Lexington County | 693 | $14.2 million | 1.1% | $940 | 6 |
| Berkeley County | 619 | $8.8 million | 7.2% | $840 | 7 |
| Marion County | 492 | $21.5 million | 2.0% | $890 | 5 |
| Florence County | 399 | $7.0 million | 0.9% | $760 | 6 |
| Sumter County | 292 | $7.7 million | 1.0% | $660 | 5 |
| Spartanburg County | 158 | $2.6 million | 0.2% | $910 | 7 |
| Kershaw County | 122 | $972,587 | 1.0% | $990 | 6 |
| Orangeburg County | 122 | $3.5 million | 0.5% | $760 | 8 |
| Williamsburg County | 118 | $3.4 million | 0.5% | $1,140 | 6 |
| Jasper County | 113 | $2.6 million | 17.8% | $810 | 6 |
| Darlington County | 109 | $1.6 million | 0.3% | $910 | 5 |
| Dillon County | 102 | $4.9 million | 0.8% | $760 | 6 |
| York County | 77 | $651,098 | 0.4% | $790 | 5 |
| Fairfield County | 75 | $963,664 | 1.6% | $1,210 | 6 |
| Pickens County | 63 | $1.7 million | 0.3% | $1,090 | 6 |
| Clarendon County | 43 | $549,886 | 0.5% | $710 | 5 |
| Greenwood County | 43 | $772,579 | 0.2% | $1,060 | 6 |
| Aiken County | 42 | $210,939 | 0.6% | $860 | 6 |
| Anderson County | 39 | $927,192 | 0.1% | $1,140 | 7 |
| Newberry County | 39 | $281,310 | 0.6% | $1,090 | 7 |
| Lancaster County | 34 | $513,699 | 0.4% | $860 | 6 |
| Bamberg County | 33 | $1.7 million | 0.5% | $760 | 9 |
| Marlboro County | 24 | $418,164 | 0.3% | $910 | 5 |
| Oconee County | 24 | $179,375 | 0.2% | $1,160 | 6 |
| Hampton County | 20 | $248,712 | 0.8% | $890 | 7 |
| Laurens County | 20 | $563,397 | 0.2% | $1,210 | 6 |
| Edgefield County | 18 | $365,781 | 0.4% | $940 | 5 |
| Lee County | 16 | $183,247 | 0.2% | n/a | 5 |
| Chesterfield County | 13 | $166,444 | 0.1% | n/a | 5 |
| Saluda County | 11 | $28,743 | 0.3% | $990 | 6 |
| Chester County | 8 | $88,553 | 0.2% | $810 | 6 |
| Allendale County | 6 | $282,090 | 0.1% | n/a | 6 |
| Barnwell County | 6 | $40,536 | 0.1% | n/a | 7 |
| Cherokee County | 6 | $46,078 | 0.1% | $940 | 5 |
| Calhoun County | 5 | $9,562 | 0.2% | n/a | 7 |
| Abbeville County | 2 | $27,581 | 0.1% | n/a | 6 |
| McCormick County | 2 | $88,141 | 1.4% | $1,210 | 6 |
| Union County | 1 | $40,524 | 0.0% | n/a | 6 |
Flood-related FEMA disaster declarations in South Carolina
Declarations since 2000 that FEMA lists as involving flooding. "Help for individuals" means FEMA's Individual Assistance was approved for at least part of the area.
| Declaration | Declared | Event | Help for individuals |
|---|---|---|---|
| DR-4858-SC | Jan 10, 2025 | Severe Storms and Flooding | No |
| DR-4835-SC | Sep 29, 2024 | Tropical Storm Debby | No |
| DR-4829-SC | Sep 29, 2024 | Hurricane Helene | Yes |
| EM-3619-SC | Sep 26, 2024 | Hurricane Helene | No |
| EM-3606-SC | Aug 5, 2024 | Hurricane Debby | No |
| EM-3597-SC | Aug 31, 2023 | Hurricane Idalia | No |
| DR-4479-SC | Mar 17, 2020 | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding | No |
| DR-4241-SC | Oct 5, 2015 | Severe Storms and Flooding | Yes |
| EM-3373-SC | Oct 3, 2015 | Severe Storms and Flooding | No |
What to do with this
A county's history doesn't tell you your own building's risk. To see your property's flood zone, use FEMA's flood map lookup. To weigh coverage, start with do I need flood insurance? and what flood insurance costs.
Where these numbers come from
All figures on this page are calculated from FEMA's public OpenFEMA datasets:
- NFIP Redacted Claims (v3) (FEMA (OpenFEMA)): NFIP claims since 1978, downloaded 2026-10-08. Dollar amounts are what the NFIP paid, not adjusted for inflation. Claims filed under private flood insurance aren't included.
- NFIP Residential Penetration Rates (v1) (FEMA (OpenFEMA)): NFIP residential policy contracts in force (as of August 3, 2026) divided by FEMA's count of residential buildings from the National Structure Inventory. FEMA notes that inventory is incomplete in some counties, which can inflate the rate. Private flood policies aren't counted.
- NFIP Redacted Policies (v3) (FEMA (OpenFEMA)): NFIP policies in force on June 30, 2026 (a policy counts if its term covers that date and it wasn't cancelled), downloaded 2026-10-08. Policy counts are FEMA's insured units, so a condominium association policy counts each unit. Costs are FEMA's "policy cost" (premium plus reserve fund assessment, federal policy fee and HFIAA surcharge) for single-family homes only. Policies FEMA's data doesn't place in a county count toward the state only.
- Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2) (FEMA (OpenFEMA)): disaster declarations, downloaded 2026-10-08. We count a declaration as flood-related when FEMA lists flooding (or a dam or levee break) as its incident type or a designated incident type, or the declaration's title mentions flooding.
FEMA's redacted claims data doesn't identify properties, and FEMA notes that some records lack a county or flood zone. See how we use the data.