Enter any address in Richland County, South Carolina to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from slow-moving thunderstorms is the most frequent flood event in Richland County, SC. Over the past 30 years, the NOAA Storm Events Database recorded 238 flash flood events, resulting in 9 fatalities. For example, on June 13, 2025, storms with high atmospheric instability trained across the county, causing significant flash flooding. Other flood-producing events include 19 general flood events, 13 tropical storm events, and 6 tropical depression events.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data indicates that properties in Zone A, designated for areas with a 1% annual chance of flooding, have experienced the highest number of claims. These claims averaged $58,746 with an average water depth of 10.8 feet. Properties in Zone X, representing areas with a 0.2% annual chance of flooding, also saw claims, averaging $24,619 with an average water depth of 6.8 feet. Properties in Zone X_UNSHADED and Zone V also have NFIP claims.
Homeowners in Zone A and Zone X should pay particular attention to flood risk. Residents in areas with lower-numbered flood zones, or those without a Base Flood Elevation (BFE), may face higher risks and should consult flood maps for specific details.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
90 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Richland County, South Carolina has recorded 276 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 238 flash floods and 19 river or area floods. The county has received 26 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 |
| 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 |
| Hurricane Irma | Hurricane | Sep 6, 2017 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | May 29, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 20, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 15, 2025 | 5.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 13, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 13, 2025 | 2.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 13, 2025 | 5.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 1, 2025 | 5.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 31, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jun 30, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jun 30, 2024 | 1.00K |
Flood — May 29, 2025
Slow moving thunderstorms developed across central SC during the afternoon and evening hours of May 29th. High instability and deep moisture helped produce a environment favorable for damaging winds, hail, and flash flooding. Numerous reports of damaging winds and isolated large hail were confirmed across the Midlands of SC.
Flash Flood — Sep 20, 2025
Widespread pulse thunderstorms produced locally heavy rain across the Midlands, including isolated flash flooding in the Columbia metro in the evening of September 20th. Above average precipitable water, a weak approaching trough, and little wind shear produced slow moving storms with highly efficient rain rates of 3-4 inches per hour.
Flash Flood — Aug 15, 2025
Upper ridging in place to the west of the area, over the central US. A MCS developed east of the ridge axis and moved through the Deep South. Deep layer moisture in place and convergence from colliding outflow boundaries led to heavy rain. This caused urban flash flooding during the night of August 15th into the 16th.
Flash Flood — Jun 13, 2025
Diurnally driven convection developed within a moist and unstable air mass characterized by CAPE values greater than 2000 J/kg with weak wind shear and precipitable water values over 2 inches and dewpoints in the lower 70s. Storms were slow moving and trained across Richland and Sumter counties resulting in flash flooding. Isolated strong storms produced severe wind damage northwest of Sumter.
Flash Flood — Aug 1, 2025
An anomalously hot and humid air mass was in place ahead of a cold front. Widespread showers and storms developed ahead of this front in a highly unstable environment with sufficient deep layer shear to lead to more organized multicell clusters. This led to scattered wind damage reports. In addition, with high PWATs, flash flooding developed in downtown Columbia.
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 Richland 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 Richland 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.