Natural hazards · Florence

Florence, SC natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Florence comes from hurricanes, and overall the risk is high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 61 claims here since 1989. 9 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Florence?

High

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Florence to be higher than in 67% of U.S. communities, mostly from hurricanes and inland flooding.

Hurricanes36%Inland flooding25%Tornadoes14%Earthquakes11%Everything else13%

By hazard

What Florence faces

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

Hurricanes

36% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 91% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 4 years in the area

Inland flooding

25% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 28% of U.S. places

Recorded about once a year in the area

Tornadoes

14% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 77% of U.S. places

Earthquakes

11% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 78% of U.S. places

Lower here

HailIce stormsWinter weatherCold wavesHeat wavesWildfireLandslidesStrong windLightningDrought

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 Florence flood?

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

61paid claims since 1989

$1.1Mpaid to owners

9homes flooded more than once

19892026

Biggest named events

Hurricane Matthew: 26 claims, $722K
October severe storms: 10 claims, $67K
Hurricane Hanna: 1 claim, $3K

Homes that flooded again and again

■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (0) ■ flooded 2+ times

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

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

Insurance rates: Florence County.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

3flood-prone properties bought out and cleared

3homes raised above flood level

Disasters that hit Florence

9 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into FlorenceDeclared for Florence County only

2024

Tropical Storm Debby

$97K to the City of Florence for repairs

2022

Hurricane Ian

$11K to the City of Florence for repairs

2018

Hurricane Florence

306 households applied for aid $122K aid approved $64K to the City of Florence for repairs

2016

Hurricane Matthew

2,937 households applied for aid $1.9M aid approved $2.6M to the City of Florence for repairs

2015

Severe Storms and Flooding

2,304 households applied for aid $1.4M aid approved $15K to the City of Florence for repairs

2014

Severe Winter Storm

$226K to the City of Florence for repairs

2004

Tropical Storm Frances

132 households applied for aid $76K aid approved

2004

Severe Ice Storm

$146K to the City of Florence for repairs

1999

Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations

$23K to the City of Florence for repairs

Florence County has had 18 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. Florence covers 10 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Florence’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Florence. 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 Florence total about $19.8M 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.