Enter any address in Chester County, South Carolina to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from heavy rainfall events is the most frequent type of flood recorded in Chester County, SC over the past 30 years, with 15 events categorized as either flash floods or general floods. Tropical storms have also contributed to flood events, with two recorded instances. For example, heavy rainfall associated with slow-moving thunderstorms caused flash flooding on July 11, 2013. More recently, widespread flash flooding occurred on February 6, 2020, due to unusually high moisture levels and a slow-moving frontal system.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data indicates that properties in Zone X_Unshaded and Zone UNKNOWN have experienced significant payouts, with average claim amounts exceeding $20,000. Zone A properties also saw claims with an average payout of over $6,000. Homeowners in these zones, particularly those in Zone X_Unshaded where an average water depth of 1.0 ft was recorded, should pay close attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
3 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Chester County, South Carolina has recorded 15 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 7 flash floods and 6 river or area floods. The county has received 23 federal disaster declarations. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1977–2026)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Winter Storm | Winter Storm | Jan 21, 2026 |
| Hurricane Helene | Tropical Storm | Sep 25, 2024 |
| Hurricane Debby | Tropical Storm | Aug 4, 2024 |
| Hurricane Idalia | Hurricane | Aug 29, 2023 |
| Hurricane Ian | Hurricane | Sep 25, 2022 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Feb 6, 2020 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Hurricane Dorian | Hurricane | Aug 31, 2019 |
| Hurricane Florence | Hurricane | Sep 8, 2018 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Tropical Storm | Sep 27, 2024 | 500.00K |
| Flash Flood | Feb 6, 2020 | 50.00K |
| Tropical Storm | Oct 11, 2018 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 11, 2013 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 11, 2013 | 50.00K |
| Flood | Sep 8, 2004 | — |
| Flash Flood | Sep 8, 2004 | — |
| Flash Flood | Feb 27, 2003 | — |
| Flood | Mar 20, 2003 | — |
| Flood | Apr 18, 2003 | — |
Tropical Storm — Sep 27, 2024
Tropical Cyclone Helene began organizing over the western Caribbean on the 23rd and 24th of September before rapidly intensifying as it moved north through the eastern Gulf of Mexico on the 25th and 26th. A plume of moisture extending from the intensifying storm interacted with a slow-moving cold front to produce a band of widespread heavy rain showers and embedded scattered thunderstorms over ...
Flash Flood — Feb 6, 2020
Unusually high levels of moisture for early February combined with a slow-moving frontal system to produce an extended period of moderate to heavy rainfall across Upstate South Carolina from the morning of the 5th until the early morning hours of the 7th. Intense rain rates associated with bands of heavy rain showers and embedded thunderstorms developing along the front during the morning and a...
Tropical Storm — Oct 11, 2018
Tropical cyclone Michael gradually weakened as it tracked from the South Carolina Midlands through portions of the South Carolina and North Carolina Piedmont throughout the 11th. Gusty winds increased to 35 to 45 mph during the daylight hours on the east side of the storm track, with numerous trees blown across the Piedmont.
Flash Flood — Jul 11, 2013
Slow moving thunderstorms dropped very heavy rain over the northeast piedmont of South Carolina, resulting in flash flooding.
Flood — Sep 8, 2004
After the intense rainfall rates ended, continued moderate to occasionally heavy rainfall allowed general flooding to persist into the mid-morning.
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Individual Claims (2.25M records analyzed).
FEMA assigns flood zone designations to areas in Chester County, South Carolina:
AE High Risk — 1% annual chance of flooding. Insurance required.
VE Very High Risk — Coastal flooding with wave action.
X (Shaded) Moderate Risk — 500-year floodplain.
X Low Risk — Outside major floodplains.
Properties in Chester County, South Carolina that are in FEMA-designated Special Flood Hazard Areas (zones A and V) with federally backed mortgages are required to carry flood insurance.
Even outside high-risk zones, flood insurance is recommended. From 2014 to 2024, nearly one-third of NFIP claims came from outside the high-risk Special Flood Hazard Area.
Visit FloodSmart.gov to find an agent and get a quote.