Natural hazards · Summerville

Summerville, SC natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Summerville comes from earthquakes, and overall the risk is very high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 82 claims here since 1980. 8 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Summerville?

Very high

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Summerville to be higher than in 97% of U.S. communities, mostly from earthquakes and hurricanes.

Earthquakes45%Hurricanes41%Inland flooding10%Everything else5%

By hazard

What Summerville faces

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

Earthquakes

45% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 93% of U.S. places

Hurricanes

41% of expected damage

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

Recorded about once every 3 years in the area

Inland flooding

10% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 39% of U.S. places

Recorded about once a year in the area

Lower here

Coastal floodingTornadoesHailIce 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 Summerville flood?

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

82paid claims since 1980

$2.9Mpaid to owners

17homes flooded more than once

19802026

Biggest named events

October severe storms: 48 claims, $1.8M
Hurricane Matthew: 10 claims, $283K
Hurricane Debby: 7 claims, $535K

Homes that flooded again and again

■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (1) ■ flooded 2+ times

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

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

Insurance rates: Dorchester County.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

3buildings retrofitted against wind

2storm safe rooms built

1flood-prone properties bought out and cleared

1homes raised above flood level

Disasters that hit Summerville

8 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into SummervilleDeclared for Dorchester County only

2024

Tropical Storm Debby

$25K to the Town of Summerville for repairs

2022

Hurricane Ian

6 households applied for aid $3K aid approved

2018

Hurricane Florence

$4K to the Town of Summerville for repairs

2017

Hurricane Irma

$13K to the Town of Summerville for repairs

2016

Hurricane Matthew

1,071 households applied for aid $316K aid approved $114K to the Town of Summerville for repairs

2015

Severe Storms and Flooding

2,685 households applied for aid $2.4M aid approved $64K to the Town of Summerville for repairs

2014

Severe Winter Storm

$400K to the Town of Summerville for repairs

1999

Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations

$61K to the Town of Summerville for repairs

Dorchester County has had 15 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often hurricanes and severe storms.

Around Summerville

Summerville and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Summervillemostly earthquakesVery high

North Charlestonmostly hurricanesVery high

Lincolnvillemostly 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. Summerville covers 7 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Summerville’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the Town of Summerville. 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 Summerville total about $45.6M 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.