Enter any address in Oconee County, South Carolina to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from heavy rainfall events is the most frequent type of flood recorded in Oconee County over the past 30 years. Recent examples include a flash flood event on January 9, 2024, caused by widespread rain from a complex frontal system, and another on September 5, 2022, which resulted in isolated flash flooding in the Chattooga River basin due to heavy rain from a stalled frontal zone. Tropical Storm Helene also brought heavy rainfall to the region in late September 2024.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data indicates that properties in Zone A have experienced the highest average payouts and water depths, suggesting a higher risk. Homeowners in areas designated as Zone A, as well as those in Zone X, should pay close attention to flood risk information.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
10 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Oconee County, South Carolina has recorded 29 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 22 flash floods and 5 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, And Straight-line Winds | Severe Storm | Apr 12, 2020 |
| 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 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Tropical Storm | Sep 27, 2024 | 3.00K |
| Tropical Storm | Sep 27, 2024 | 2.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jan 9, 2024 | 5.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 5, 2022 | 1.00K |
| Flood | Sep 3, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 3, 2022 | 10.00K |
| Flood | Feb 6, 2020 | 40.00K |
| Flash Flood | Feb 6, 2020 | 400.00K |
| Flash Flood | Apr 19, 2019 | 20.00K |
| Flood | May 16, 2018 | 3.00K |
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 — Jan 9, 2024
A major/complex frontal system brought widespread rain with embedded thunderstorms to upstate South Carolina, mainly during the late morning and afternoon of the 9th. Widespread rainfall amounts of 3 to 5 inches (with locally higher amounts) in around 12 hours resulted in numerous reports of flooding. Isolated severe thunderstorms also resulted in a a few damaging wind gusts reports over the Pi...
Flash Flood — Sep 5, 2022
Heavy rain fell off and on throughout the first few days of September in the vicinity of a stalled frontal zone. A period of heavy rain during the morning of the 5th resulted in 1 to 2 inches in just a few hours across northern Oconee County, resulting in isolated flash flooding in the Chattooga River basin.
Flood — Sep 3, 2022
A small area of heavy rain showers and thunderstorms repeatedly developed and moved over the same areas of Oconee County during the overnight and early morning hours of the 3rd. Rainfall totals of 4-7 inches resulted in flash flooding across the western half of the county.
Flash Flood — Sep 3, 2022
A small area of heavy rain showers and thunderstorms repeatedly developed and moved over the same areas of Oconee County during the overnight and early morning hours of the 3rd. Rainfall totals of 4-7 inches resulted in flash flooding across the western half of the county.
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 Oconee 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 Oconee 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.