Natural hazards · Williamston

Williamston, SC natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Williamston comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is moderate for a U.S. community. 4 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Williamston?

Moderate

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Williamston to be higher than in 48% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and cold waves.

Inland flooding49%Cold waves16%Tornadoes12%Earthquakes8%Everything else14%

By hazard

What Williamston faces

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

Inland flooding

49% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 62% of U.S. places

Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Cold waves

16% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 62% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 5 years in the area

Tornadoes

12% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 71% of U.S. places

Earthquakes

8% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 74% of U.S. places

Lower here

HurricanesHailIce stormsWinter weatherHeat 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 Williamston flood?

FEMA's records show no paid flood insurance claims in Williamston.

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

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

Insurance rates: Anderson County.

Disasters that hit Williamston

4 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into WilliamstonDeclared for Anderson County only

2024

Hurricane Helene

2,476 households applied for aid $1.6M aid approved $186K to the Town of Williamston for repairs

2017

Hurricane Irma

$28K to the Town of Williamston for repairs

2015

Severe Storms and Flooding

$56K to the Town of Williamston for repairs

2005

Severe Ice Storm

$50K to the Town of Williamston for repairs

Anderson County has had 15 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. Williamston covers 2 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Williamston’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the Town of Williamston. 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 Williamston 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.