Enter any address in Newberry County, South Carolina to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from heavy rainfall events is the most frequent type of flooding in Newberry County. Recent examples include localized flash flooding on July 25, 2024, caused by rainfall rates exceeding 2 inches per hour, and another flash flood event on August 12, 2025, attributed to high moisture content and slow-moving thunderstorms. Tropical Storm Helene also impacted the area on September 27, 2024, contributing to significant weather events.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) data shows that properties in Zone A have experienced the most claims, with an average payout of $9,986 and an average water depth of 1.1 feet. While Zone X_UNSHADED has fewer claims, the average water depth has been higher at 2.0 feet, with an average payout of $5,847. Homeowners in Zone A and Zone X_UNSHADED, as well as those in areas with lower flood elevations, should pay particular attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
7 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Newberry County, South Carolina has recorded 16 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 10 flash floods and 2 river or area floods. The county has received 24 federal disaster declarations, 1 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Aug 12, 2025 | 5.00K |
| Tropical Storm | Sep 27, 2024 | 19.20M (5 deaths) |
| Flash Flood | Jul 25, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Tropical Storm | Sep 30, 2022 | — |
| Tropical Storm | Sep 15, 2018 | — |
| Tropical Storm | Oct 10, 2018 | — |
| Flash Flood | Dec 30, 2015 | 10.00K |
| Flash Flood | Dec 30, 2015 | 3.00K |
| Flash Flood | Oct 4, 2015 | 250.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 3, 2015 | 2.00K |
Flash Flood — Aug 12, 2025
Showers and isolated thunderstorms developed along the western edge of a surface ridge, along an area of low level convergence. High deep layer moisture, with precipitable water around 2.2 inches, and weak storm motion led to flash flooding developing in portions of Newberry County.
Tropical Storm — Sep 27, 2024
Tropical Storm Helene formed in the NW Caribbean Sea on September 24. Helene moved northward into the Gulf of Mexico where it strengthened into a hurricane on September 25. Helene made landfall as a major hurricane in the Big Bend area of Florida the night of September 26 before quickly moving inland into east central Georgia by early morning on September 27. Helene weakened to a strong tropica...
Flash Flood — Jul 25, 2024
The highly favorable flash flooding environment continued for another day on 7-25 with high precipitable water over 2.25 inches, parallel deep layer shear to the low level moisture convergence boundary, and moderate instability aloft. High rainfall rates exceeding 2 inches per hour and a series of training thunderstorms caused localized flash flood in the greater Newberry area.
Tropical Storm — Sep 30, 2022
Ian first formed as Tropical Depression Nine in the Caribbean Sea on September 23,|2022. It moved west and northwest into the Western Caribbean and strengthened|into a hurricane. The cyclone turned to the north and crossed over the western tip|of Cuba on September 27th.||Ian strengthened into a major hurricane and moved NNE across the SE Gulf of Mexico,|and intensified into a high end categor...
Tropical Storm — Sep 15, 2018
Hurricane Florence began as an area of disturbed weather that moved west off the African coast around August 29-30, 2018. It gradually developed into a tropical cyclone on August 31, 2018 while just south of the Cape Verde islands. The cyclone continued to move to the WNW across the Atlantic Ocean in the ensuing two weeks, undergoing fluctuations in intensity. The cyclone reorganized and str...
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 Newberry 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 Newberry 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.