49,595 flood insurance claims·$1.0B paid·188,318 policies in force
Shaded areas are FEMA’s mapped flood hazard zones in and around South Carolina. Zoomed out they are simplified; at street level the map switches to FEMA’s exact layer. Tap anywhere to check that spot, or search an address above.
South Carolina faces a mixed flood risk profile characterized predominantly by frequent flash floods, tropical systems, and coastal flooding events over the past thirty years. According to NOAA records, flash floods accounted for 1,765 events and 27 deaths, while tropical storms contributed 389 events and 39 deaths. Additional hazards include standard riverine floods, coastal floods, tropical depressions, storm surges and tides, and hurricanes. Recent federal disaster declarations underscore this varied exposure, highlighting severe storms and flooding alongside the impacts of Hurricane Helene in late 2024.
The distribution of National Flood Insurance Program claims across FEMA zone categories illustrates where financial impacts are concentrated. Zone A accounts for the vast majority of claims with 36,250 filings totaling $738 million paid, indicating that residents in high-risk special flood hazard areas require insurance the most. Meanwhile, significant claims occur outside these primary zones, pointing to unexpected risk. Specifically, Zone X recorded 6,436 claims totaling $157 million, while Zone V accumulated 4,019 claims totaling $100 million. Additional claims span shaded and unshaded portions of Zone X, unknown categories, and Zone D, demonstrating that property owners outside designated high-risk flood zones also experience surprise flood claims.
Summary generated from FEMA disaster declarations, NOAA storm events, and NFIP claim data. Updated quarterly.
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Claims, Policies, and Disaster Declarations data. NFIP policies in force and average premium (premium plus federal policy fee) as of August 31, 2026, from OpenFEMA.
South Carolina has received 1,187 federal disaster declarations, including 57 flood and coastal storm declarations and 268 hurricane declarations.
NFIP claims by county, 1978 to date. Source: OpenFEMA. Counties ranked by recorded flood events →
Properties in South Carolina FEMA-designated Special Flood Hazard Areas (zones A and V) with a mortgage from a federally regulated or insured lender, or a federally backed loan, are required to carry flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
South Carolina had 188,318 NFIP policies in force on August 31, 2026, and the average NFIP premium was $786 a year (premium plus the federal policy fee; the reserve fund assessment and HFIAA surcharge come on top, and nationally they make actual bills about a quarter higher). Under FEMA’s Risk Rating 2.0 each building is priced on its own flood risk, so a state average says little about what any one home will pay.
Even outside high-risk zones, flood insurance is recommended. From 2014 to 2024, nearly one-third of NFIP claims came from properties outside the high-risk Special Flood Hazard Area. South Carolina residents can purchase flood insurance through the NFIP or private insurers.
Visit FloodSmart.gov to find an agent and get a quote.
See the most flood-prone counties in South Carolina →
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