Natural hazards · Charleston

Charleston, SC natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Charleston comes from hurricanes, and overall the risk is very high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 5,206 claims here since 1978. 10 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Charleston?

Very high

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Charleston to be higher than in 96% of U.S. communities, mostly from hurricanes and earthquakes.

Hurricanes54%Earthquakes25%Coastal flooding9%Inland flooding8%Everything else4%

By hazard

What Charleston faces

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

Hurricanes

54% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 98% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 3 years in the area

Earthquakes

25% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 87% of U.S. places

Coastal flooding

9% of expected damage

Well above average · among the top 1% of U.S. places

Inland flooding

8% of expected damage

Well below average · higher than 12% of U.S. places

Recorded about 3 times a year in the area

Lower here

TornadoesHailIce stormsWinter weatherCold wavesHeat wavesWildfireLandslidesStrong windLightningDrought

Not a risk here

AvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic 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 Charleston flood?

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

5,206paid claims since 1978

$126Mpaid to owners

753homes flooded more than once

19782026

Biggest named events

Hurricane Hugo: 1,921 claims, $48.2M
Hurricane Irma: 779 claims, $27.3M
Hurricane Matthew: 681 claims, $22.3M

Homes that flooded again and again

Each house = 13 homes. ■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (144) ■ flooded 2+ times

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

🏷️ 20% off flood insurance. Charleston is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 6) for its flood-proofing work.

Insurance rates: Charleston County.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

81flood-prone properties bought out and cleared

23buildings retrofitted against wind

14homes raised above flood level

5buildings floodproofed

Disasters that hit Charleston

10 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into CharlestonDeclared for Charleston County only

2022

Hurricane Ian

1,152 households applied for aid $279K aid approved $880K to the City of Charleston for repairs

2019

Hurricane Dorian

$1.3M to the City of Charleston for repairs

2018

Hurricane Florence

1 household applied for aid $538K to the City of Charleston for repairs

2017

Hurricane Irma

$3.1M to the City of Charleston for repairs

2016

Hurricane Matthew

1,169 households applied for aid $736K aid approved $1.4M to the City of Charleston for repairs

2015

Severe Storms and Flooding

3,842 households applied for aid $2.4M aid approved $449K to the City of Charleston for repairs

2005

Hurricane Katrina Evacuation

$43K to the City of Charleston for repairs

2004

Tropical Storm Frances

145 households applied for aid $124K aid approved

2004

Tropical Storm Gaston

$340K to the City of Charleston for repairs

1999

Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations

$947K to the City of Charleston for repairs

Charleston County has had 18 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often hurricanes and severe storms.

Around Charleston

Charleston and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Charlestonmostly hurricanesVery high

North Charlestonmostly hurricanesVery high

Hanahanmostly hurricanesVery high

Hollywoodmostly hurricanesVery high

Folly Beachmostly hurricanesVery high

Mount Pleasantmostly hurricanesVery high

James Islandmostly hurricanesVery high

Goose Creekmostly hurricanesVery high

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. Charleston covers 36 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Charleston’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Charleston. 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 Charleston total about $176M 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.