Natural hazards · Camden

Camden, SC natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Camden comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is low for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 5 claims here since 1990. 8 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025 · OpenFEMA claims, aid & declarations

Expected damage

How exposed is Camden?

Low

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Camden to be higher than in 36% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and hurricanes.

Inland flooding38%Hurricanes16%Tornadoes12%Earthquakes9%Strong wind7%Cold waves6%Everything else11%

By hazard

What Camden faces

Each hazard’s share of the damage FEMA expects here, and how that compares with the rest of the country.

Inland flooding

38% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 27% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 2 years in the area

Hurricanes

16% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 84% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 5 years in the area

Tornadoes

12% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 79% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 57 years in the area

Earthquakes

9% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 75% of U.S. places

Strong wind

7% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 63% of U.S. places

Recorded about 6 times a year in the area

Cold waves

6% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 66% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 3 years in the area

Lower here

HailIce stormsWinter weatherWildfireLandslidesLightningDrought

Not a risk here

Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.

Flood insurance claims

Does Camden flood?

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Camden, from FEMA’s records.

5paid claims since 1990

$39Kpaid to owners

0homes flooded more than once

19902026

Biggest named events

Hurricane Helene: 1 claim, $25K
October severe storms: 1 claim, $11K

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

No community discount. Camden isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Kershaw County.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

1storm safe rooms built

Disasters that hit Camden

8 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

Disasters the President declared that paid out in Camden itself: aid to households, or repair grants to the City of Camden.

Brought FEMA money into CamdenDeclared for Kershaw County only

2024

Hurricane Helene

797 households applied for aid $460K aid approved $138K to the City of Camden for repairs

2017

Hurricane Irma

$4K to the City of Camden for repairs

2016

Hurricane Matthew

13 households applied for aid $3K aid approved $111K to the City of Camden for repairs

2015

Severe Storms and Flooding

841 households applied for aid $484K aid approved $157K to the City of Camden for repairs

2004

Tropical Storm Frances

69 households applied for aid $96K aid approved

2004

Severe Ice Storm

$105K to the City of Camden for repairs

2000

Severe Winter Storm

$47K to the City of Camden for repairs

1999

Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations

$7K to the City of Camden for repairs

Kershaw County has had 20 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often hurricanes and severe storms.

About these numbers

How to read this page

An average, not a forecastFEMA’s National Risk Index estimates the damage 18 kinds of natural hazards cause in a typical year, from decades of records and models. A quiet decade can follow a bad year.

Compared by rate“Higher than N%” compares yearly damage as a share of what’s here, so a big city isn’t rated riskier just for having more buildings. Camden covers 1 census tract, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Camden’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Camden. FEMA’s model follows property values, so a place that recently lost many homes can rate lower than it feels.

FEMA’s expected losses across Camden total about $2.1M a year, counting buildings, people and crops.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025); OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Census tracts: U.S. Census Bureau.