Natural hazards · Sumter

Sumter, SC natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Sumter comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is moderate for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 139 claims here since 1979. 8 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Sumter?

Moderate

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Sumter to be higher than in 45% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and hurricanes.

Inland flooding36%Hurricanes23%Earthquakes16%Tornadoes8%Everything else18%

By hazard

What Sumter faces

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

Inland flooding

36% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 32% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 2 years in the area

Hurricanes

23% of expected damage

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

Recorded about once every 4 years in the area

Earthquakes

16% of expected damage

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

Tornadoes

8% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 56% 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 Sumter flood?

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

139paid claims since 1979

$5.2Mpaid to owners

9homes flooded more than once

19792026

Biggest named events

October severe storms: 95 claims, $4.3M
Hurricane Matthew: 3 claims, $6K
Hurricane Florence: 2 claims, $16K

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

🏷️ 15% off flood insurance. Sumter is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7) for its flood-proofing work.

Insurance rates: Sumter County.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

26flood-prone properties bought out and cleared

15buildings retrofitted against wind

Disasters that hit Sumter

8 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into SumterDeclared for Sumter County only

2018

Hurricane Florence

$105K to the City of Sumter for repairs

2017

Hurricane Irma

$88K to the City of Sumter for repairs

2016

Hurricane Matthew

519 households applied for aid $278K aid approved $469K to the City of Sumter for repairs

2015

Severe Storms and Flooding

7,746 households applied for aid $11.1M aid approved $3.8M to the City of Sumter for repairs

2014

Severe Winter Storm

$690K to the City of Sumter for repairs

2004

Tropical Storm Frances

171 households applied for aid $84K aid approved

2004

Severe Ice Storm

$666K to the City of Sumter for repairs

1999

Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations

$33K to the City of Sumter for repairs

Sumter County has had 19 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often hurricanes and severe storms.

Around Sumter

Sumter and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

East Sumtermostly inland floodingModerate

Cherryvalemostly inland floodingModerate

South Sumtermostly inland floodingModerate

Lakewoodmostly inland floodingModerate

Oaklandmostly inland floodingModerate

Sumtermostly inland floodingModerate

Cane Savannahmostly inland floodingModerate

Mulberrymostly inland floodingModerate

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. Sumter covers 9 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Sumter’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Sumter. 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 Sumter total about $12.8M 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.