Hazard Plain Preview: automated baseline

Charleston County, SC

Risk-assessment baseline packet

Unit
County area 45019
Release
2026-10
As of
2026-09-28
Storm Events data through
2026-06-30

Hazard Plain is an independent product built from public federal data. It is not a FEMA document and is not reviewed or endorsed by FEMA or any state agency.

A starting point for the plan's risk assessment (FEMA Local Mitigation Plan Review Tool, Element B). It does not replace local data or FEMA review. Section headings say which FEMA review item each table supports; whether an item is satisfied is decided by the plan and its reviewers.

Hazard Plain release 2026-10, as of 2026-09-28. Independent product; not a FEMA document.

Plan clock

Status
Approved, expires 2029-03-19
Plan
Charleston County (FEMA plan 109656)
Approved
2024-03-20
Expires
2029-03-19
As of
2026-09-28
Days
903 days to expiry

What changed since your last plan (approved 2024-03-20)

New federal declarations
EM-3606-SC, EM-3619-SC, EM-3632-SC (3 declaration rows; 3 counted incidents)
Storm Events records since approval
131 (data through 2026-06-30)
Repetitive loss now
FMA RL 79, SRL 228 (44 CFR 77.2); any definition: 1,296
Repeat-flood change
First release: no prior release to compare.

Sources

FEMA, OpenFEMA HazardMitigationPlanStatuses v1, version 2026-09-26T121003Z, pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v1/HazardMitigationPlanStatuses (API)

FEMA, OpenFEMA DisasterDeclarationsSummaries v2, version 2026-09-27T010817Z, pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v2/DisasterDeclarationsSummaries (API)

NOAA NCEI, NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, details files (csvfiles v1.0), version c20260918, pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/swdi/stormevents/csvfiles/

FEMA, OpenFEMA NfipMultipleLossProperties v1, version 2026-08-04T164045Z, pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v1/NfipMultipleLossProperties (API)

Plan status for every jurisdiction listed in this county: 33 rows, in the section "Plan clock: Plan status for every jurisdiction listed in this county" after these cover pages.

State plan status and tribal plans in this state: see the state page.

Plan clock

Plan status for every jurisdiction listed in this county

JurisdictionTypeStatusPlanApprovedExpiresDays to expirynegative = days since expiryUpdate underwayNotes
Charleston County (unincorporated area)UnincorporatedApproved, expires 2029-03-19Charleston County (FEMA plan 109656)2024-03-202029-03-19903member approved 2024-03-28
Awendaw townTownApproved, expires 2029-03-19Charleston County (FEMA plan 109656)2024-03-202029-03-19903
Charleston cityCityApproved, expires 2029-03-19Charleston County (FEMA plan 109656)2024-03-202029-03-19903FEMA tracker shows a plan approvable pending adoptionNot yet eligible: adopt the approved plan.
Folly Beach cityCityApproved, expires 2029-03-19Charleston County (FEMA plan 109656)2024-03-202029-03-19903member approved 2024-03-28
Hollywood townTownApproved, expires 2029-03-19Charleston County (FEMA plan 109656)2024-03-202029-03-19903
Isle of Palms cityCityApproved, expires 2029-03-19Charleston County (FEMA plan 109656)2024-03-202029-03-19903member approved 2024-03-28
James Island townTownApproved, expires 2029-03-19Charleston County (FEMA plan 109656)2024-03-202029-03-19903
Kiawah Island townTownApproved, expires 2029-03-19Charleston County (FEMA plan 109656)2024-03-202029-03-19903
Lincolnville townTownApproved, expires 2029-03-19Charleston County (FEMA plan 109656)2024-03-202029-03-19903member approved 2026-02-10
McClellanville townTownApproved, expires 2029-03-19Charleston County (FEMA plan 109656)2024-03-202029-03-19903
Meggett townTownApproved, expires 2029-03-19Charleston County (FEMA plan 109656)2024-03-202029-03-19903
Mount Pleasant townTownApproved, expires 2029-03-19Charleston County (FEMA plan 109656)2024-03-202029-03-19903Also approved under plan 109525 (Mount Pleasant, expires 2029-02-20). FEMA's plan status map shows one plan per jurisdiction and may show one of these; this packet uses the approved plan that expires last.
North Charleston cityCityApproved, expires 2029-03-19Charleston County (FEMA plan 109656)2024-03-202029-03-19903
Ravenel townTownApproved, expires 2029-03-19Charleston County (FEMA plan 109656)2024-03-202029-03-19903
Rockville townTownApproved, expires 2029-03-19Charleston County (FEMA plan 109656)2024-03-202029-03-19903
Seabrook Island townTownApproved, expires 2029-03-19Charleston County (FEMA plan 109656)2024-03-202029-03-19903
Sullivan's Island townTownApproved, expires 2029-03-19Charleston County (FEMA plan 109656)2024-03-202029-03-19903member approved 2024-03-28
Summerville townTownExpired on 2026-07-06Dorchester County (FEMA plan 106789)2021-07-072026-07-06-84member approved 2021-08-23
Charleston County School DistrictSchool/School DistrictApproved, expires 2029-03-19Charleston County (FEMA plan 109656)2024-03-202029-03-19903member approved 2024-03-28
Charleston Co. Park and Recreation CommissionSpecial DistrictApproved, expires 2029-03-19Charleston County (FEMA plan 109656)2024-03-202029-03-19903
Charleston Water SystemWater/Sewer AuthorityApproved, expires 2029-03-19Charleston County (FEMA plan 109656)2024-03-202029-03-19903
College of CharlestonCollege/UniversityApproved, expires 2029-03-19Charleston County (FEMA plan 109656)2024-03-202029-03-19903
Cooper River Park and Playground CommissionSpecial DistrictPlan 109656 approved 2024-03-20, pending adoption here; not yet eligibleCharleston County (FEMA plan 109656), pending adoption here2024-03-20 by FEMA; not yet adopted here2029-03-19 once adoptedFEMA tracker shows a plan approvable pending adoptionNot yet eligible: adopt the approved plan.
James Island Public Service DistrictSpecial DistrictApproved, expires 2029-03-19Charleston County (FEMA plan 109656)2024-03-202029-03-19903
Mt. Pleasant WaterworksWater/Sewer AuthorityApproved, expires 2029-03-19Charleston County (FEMA plan 109656)2024-03-202029-03-19903
North Charleston District CommissionSpecial DistrictPlan 109656 approved 2024-03-20, pending adoption here; not yet eligibleCharleston County (FEMA plan 109656), pending adoption here2024-03-20 by FEMA; not yet adopted here2029-03-19 once adoptedFEMA tracker shows a plan approvable pending adoptionNot yet eligible: adopt the approved plan.
North Charleston Sewer DistrictWater/Sewer AuthorityApproved, expires 2029-03-19Charleston County (FEMA plan 109656)2024-03-202029-03-19903
Roper St. FrancisHospital/Medical FacilityApproved, expires 2029-03-19Charleston County (FEMA plan 109656)2024-03-202029-03-19903member approved 2024-04-16
St. Andrews Parish Parks and Recreation CommissionSpecial DistrictApproved, expires 2029-03-19Charleston County (FEMA plan 109656)2024-03-202029-03-19903
St. Andrews Public Service DistrictSpecial DistrictApproved, expires 2029-03-19Charleston County (FEMA plan 109656)2024-03-202029-03-19903member approved 2024-06-28
St. John's Fire DepartmentFire/EMS DistrictPlan 109656 approved 2024-03-20, pending adoption here; not yet eligibleCharleston County (FEMA plan 109656), pending adoption here2024-03-20 by FEMA; not yet adopted here2029-03-19 once adoptedFEMA tracker shows a plan approvable pending adoptionNot yet eligible: adopt the approved plan.
St.Paul's Fire DistrictFire/EMS DistrictApproved, expires 2029-03-19Charleston County (FEMA plan 109656)2024-03-202029-03-19903
The CitadelCollege/UniversityApproved, expires 2029-09-02The Citadel (FEMA plan 109144)2024-09-032029-09-021,070

Source

FEMA, OpenFEMA HazardMitigationPlanStatuses v1, version 2026-09-26T121003Z, pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v1/HazardMitigationPlanStatuses (API)

Supports B1-a: hazards

Hazards NRI does not cover: check locally

  • dam failure (incl. upstream dams)
  • levee failure
  • flash flood as its own subtype
  • ice jams
  • debris flows
  • erosion (riverine and coastal)
  • land subsidence and sinkholes
  • expansive soils

The 18 National Risk Index hazards, ranked by expected annual loss (EAL)

Rank by EALHazardNRI risk ratingEAL ratingEAL buildingsmodeled dollars per yearEAL agriculturemodeled dollars per yearEAL population equivalencestatistical value of life and injury, $13.7M per life, not property damageEAL total (see note)modeled dollars per yearStorm Events records since 1996countEvidence for an omissionNRI Not Applicable, no declaration and no Storm Events record since 1996Storm Events coverage note
1HurricaneVery HighVery High$263,973,600$428,384$16,931,164$281,333,14836Includes 4 Tropical Depression records, event types the NRI definition of this hazard leaves out.
2EarthquakeRelatively HighRelatively High$68,175,993$49,816,994$117,992,986Not in Storm Events. Storm Events coverage of this hazard is limited; absence is not evidence of low risk.
3Inland FloodingRelatively ModerateRelatively Moderate$42,615,234$406,115$1,188,544$44,209,893311
4Coastal FloodingVery HighVery High$31,731,585$3,902,587$35,634,17685
5Cold WaveRelatively ModerateRelatively High$53,389$17,708$6,523,611$6,594,7076Includes 2 Frost/Freeze records, event types the NRI definition of this hazard leaves out.
6WildfireRelatively ModerateRelatively Moderate$2,832,936$296$244,626$3,077,8574
7TornadoRelatively ModerateRelatively Moderate$767,451$474$2,251,337$3,019,26343
8Heat WaveRelatively ModerateRelatively Moderate$625$75$2,034,056$2,034,75619
9Ice StormRelatively HighVery High$1,538,417$213,453$1,751,8704
10Strong WindRelatively ModerateRelatively High$51,576$154$1,638,459$1,690,189575Includes 10 High Wind records and 43 Strong Wind records, event types the NRI definition of this hazard leaves out.
11LightningRelatively HighRelatively High$86,270$1,570,620$1,656,89047
12HailRelatively LowRelatively Low$33,841$727$416,771$451,339273
13Winter WeatherRelatively ModerateRelatively High$91,917$15$209,072$301,00412
14DroughtRelatively LowRelatively Low$50,004$50,00420
15LandslideVery LowVery Low$649$1$6500Declared 1 time; no Storm Events record of this type. Storm Events coverage of this hazard is limited; absence is not evidence of low risk.
AvalancheNot ApplicableNot Applicable0NRI rates avalanche Not Applicable for this county, and no federal declaration for this county names it.No recorded events in Storm Events since 1996 (data through 2026-06-30).
TsunamiInsufficient DataInsufficient Data0No recorded events in Storm Events since 1996 (data through 2026-06-30). Storm Events coverage of this hazard is limited; absence is not evidence of low risk.
Volcanic ActivityNot ApplicableNot Applicable0NRI rates volcanic activity Not Applicable for this county, and no federal declaration for this county names it.No recorded events in Storm Events since 1996 (data through 2026-06-30). Storm Events coverage of this hazard is limited; absence is not evidence of low risk.

Total = buildings + agriculture + population equivalence; FEMA values each expected death (or 10 injuries) at $13.7 million (2024 dollars).

Sources

FEMA, FEMA National Risk Index 1.20.0 (December 2025), county and census tract tables, version 1.20.0, pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.fema.gov/about/reports-and-data/openfema/nri/v120/NRI_Table_Counties.zip (download, 25 MB), https://www.fema.gov/about/reports-and-data/openfema/nri/v120/NRI_Table_CensusTracts.zip (download, 635 MB)

NOAA NCEI, NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, details files (csvfiles v1.0), version c20260918, pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/swdi/stormevents/csvfiles/

Check your state hazard mitigation plan's hazard list for this county; explain any hazard you drop.

Supports B1-b: location

Where each hazard occurs

HazardLocationCensus tracts ratedrated of all tracts
AvalancheCensus tract rating counts from the National Risk Index tract table (see B1-f). Tract maps and place names are not in this packet.0 of 98
Coastal FloodingThe FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) is the required location source for flooding. See the FEMA Flood Map Service Center (https://msc.fema.gov) for this county.94 of 98
Cold WaveAffects the whole planning area; national data do not distinguish locations within the county. Confirm locally.98 of 98
DroughtAffects the whole planning area; national data do not distinguish locations within the county. Confirm locally.21 of 98
EarthquakeCensus tract rating counts from the National Risk Index tract table (see B1-f). Tract maps and place names are not in this packet.98 of 98
HailAffects the whole planning area; national data do not distinguish locations within the county. Confirm locally.98 of 98
Heat WaveAffects the whole planning area; national data do not distinguish locations within the county. Confirm locally.98 of 98
HurricaneCensus tract rating counts from the National Risk Index tract table (see B1-f). Tract maps and place names are not in this packet.98 of 98
Ice StormAffects the whole planning area; national data do not distinguish locations within the county. Confirm locally.98 of 98
Inland FloodingThe FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) is the required location source for flooding. See the FEMA Flood Map Service Center (https://msc.fema.gov) for this county.98 of 98
LandslideCensus tract rating counts from the National Risk Index tract table (see B1-f). Tract maps and place names are not in this packet.74 of 98
LightningAffects the whole planning area; national data do not distinguish locations within the county. Confirm locally.98 of 98
Strong WindAffects the whole planning area; national data do not distinguish locations within the county. Confirm locally.98 of 98
TornadoCensus tract rating counts from the National Risk Index tract table (see B1-f). Tract maps and place names are not in this packet.98 of 98
TsunamiCensus tract rating counts from the National Risk Index tract table (see B1-f). Tract maps and place names are not in this packet.0 of 98
Volcanic ActivityCensus tract rating counts from the National Risk Index tract table (see B1-f). Tract maps and place names are not in this packet.0 of 98
WildfireCensus tract rating counts from the National Risk Index tract table (see B1-f). Tract maps and place names are not in this packet.89 of 98
Winter WeatherAffects the whole planning area; national data do not distinguish locations within the county. Confirm locally.98 of 98

Source

FEMA, FEMA National Risk Index 1.20.0 (December 2025), county and census tract tables, version 1.20.0, pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.fema.gov/about/reports-and-data/openfema/nri/v120/NRI_Table_Counties.zip (download, 25 MB), https://www.fema.gov/about/reports-and-data/openfema/nri/v120/NRI_Table_CensusTracts.zip (download, 635 MB)

Supports B1-c: extent

Extent: scale, observed range and worst recorded event per hazard

HazardScaleRecordscount, yearsObserved rangeWorst recorded eventMost damaging (when different)How it applies to membersNote
Avalanchenone (count and damage)0Physical measure: in event narratives only; local data required.
Coastal Flood, Storm Surge/Tidenone in data (FIRM for depth)85, 2009 to 2025 (85 zone-level)Coastal Flood, 2009-06-22, $100,000 property; crops not reported, reported for the zone (2009 dollars); NWS zone SCZ050 (CHARLESTON), zone-level: may include parts of neighboring countiesZone-level records: applies countywide; national data do not locate these events within the county.Flood depth: see the FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map.
Cold/Wind Chill, Extreme Cold/Wind Chillwind chill4, 1996 to 2026 (4 zone-level)1 day to 3 days (median 2 days); 3 with a recorded value3 consecutive days, 1996-02-03 to 1996-02-05, 1 direct death, zone-levelZone-level records: applies countywide; national data do not locate these events within the county.Wind chill: in event narratives only; local data required.
Frost/Freeze (outside NRI Cold Wave definition)crop damage2, 2007 to 2022 (2 zone-level)No crop damage reported in 2 records.Zone-level records: applies countywide; national data do not locate these events within the county.Temperature: in event narratives only; local data required.
DroughtUS Drought Monitor D-scale20, 1996 to 2002 (20 zone-level)23 days to 214 days (median 60 days); 7 with a recorded value214 days (7 months), 2002-03-01 to 2002-09-30, a run of 7 consecutive Storm Events drought records, zone-levelZone-level records: applies countywide; national data do not locate these events within the county.Storm Events enters a drought at D2 or worse east of the Rockies and D3 or worse from the Rockies west (NWS Instruction 10-1605); NRI drought counts D3 and D4 only.
EarthquakeModified Mercalli (local data)0No Storm Events record; local data required (e.g., USGS).
Hailhail size (inches)300, 1957 to 20260.75 in to 2.75 in (median 1 in); 299 with a recorded value2.75 in hail, 2011-05-10Hail, 2011-05-10, $30,000 property; $0 crops (2011 dollars)Event records naming member places: Charleston city (24 records), North Charleston city (13 records), Mount Pleasant town (9 records), Awendaw town (8 records), Ravenel town (5 records), Folly Beach city (3 records), Isle of Palms city (3 records), Hollywood town (2 records), Lincolnville town (2 records), Rockville town (2 records).
Excessive Heat, Heatheat index (narratives)19, 1996 to 2021 (19 zone-level)1 day to 31 days (median 2 days); 14 with a recorded value31 days, 1999-08-01 to 1999-08-31, from 1 monthly summary record (a monthly summary record covers most or all of a month; it does not count days at wave conditions), 6 direct deaths, zone-levelZone-level records: applies countywide; national data do not locate these events within the county.Heat index: in event narratives only; local data required.
Hurricane, Tropical Storm, Tropical DepressionSaffir-Simpson36, 1996 to 2024 (36 zone-level)Strongest recorded (records with damage, a wind speed or direct casualties first, then storm type, category and wind): Hurricane (Typhoon) record, 1996-07-12, 50 kt (58 mph), measurement type not recorded, damage not reported; NWS zone SCZ050 (CHARLESTON), zone-level: may include parts of neighboring countiesMost damaging recorded: Tropical Storm, 2004-08-29, $16,600,000 property; crops not reported, reported for the zone (2004 dollars)Zone-level records: applies countywide; national data do not locate these events within the county.Storm Events files every zone of a storm's episode under the storm's event type and category, so a Hurricane (Typhoon) record, especially an inland or remnant one, does not by itself mean hurricane-force winds here; read the damage and wind columns.
Ice StormSperry-Piltz (local data)4, 2004 to 2014 (4 zone-level)Ice Storm, 2011-01-10, $150,000 property; $0 crops, reported for the zone (2011 dollars); NWS zone SCZ050 (CHARLESTON), zone-level: may include parts of neighboring countiesZone-level records: applies countywide; national data do not locate these events within the county.Ice thickness: in event narratives only; local data required.
Flash Flood, Flood, Lakeshore Flooddamage and flood days (FIRM for depth)311, 1996 to 2026 (3 zone-level)Flash Flood, 2012-08-28, $750,000 property; $0 crops (2012 dollars)Event records naming member places: Charleston city (83 records), Awendaw town (9 records), Mount Pleasant town (9 records), North Charleston city (8 records), Folly Beach city (4 records), Rockville town (3 records), Hollywood town (2 records), Meggett town (2 records), Isle of Palms city (1 record), Lincolnville town (1 record); and 1 more member place (see the XLSX file). Zone-level records (3) apply countywide.Flood depth: see the FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map. Storm Events damage can be $0 or blank even for a major flood, so the worst record here may not be the worst flood; compare FEMA Public Assistance by declaration in B1-d.
Debris Flownone (count and damage)0Physical measure: in event narratives only; local data required.
Lightningannualized frequency (the measure FEMA's Local Mitigation Planning Handbook names)47, 1998 to 2025Lightning, 2005-06-18, damage not reported, 1 direct deathLightning, 2000-04-17, $500,000 property; crops not reported (2000 dollars)Event records naming member places: North Charleston city (3 records), Awendaw town (2 records), Mount Pleasant town (2 records), Charleston city (1 record), Folly Beach city (1 record), Isle of Palms city (1 record), Ravenel town (1 record).Storm Events lists lightning with damage or casualties; physical measure in event narratives only; local data required.
High Wind and Strong Wind (outside NRI Strong Wind definition)wind speed (kt and mph)53, 2004 to 2024 (53 zone-level)22 kt (25 mph) to 60 kt (69 mph) (median 40 kt (46 mph)); 53 with a recorded value60 kt (69 mph) measured gust, High Wind, 2024-01-09; NWS zone SCZ050 (CHARLESTON), zone-level: may include parts of neighboring countiesHigh Wind, 2022-03-12, $10,000 property; $0 crops, reported for the zone (2022 dollars)Zone-level records: applies countywide; national data do not locate these events within the county.
Thunderstorm Windwind speed (kt and mph)624, 1955 to 202635 kt (40 mph) to 83 kt (96 mph) (median 50 kt (58 mph)); 541 with a recorded value83 kt (96 mph) estimated gust, Thunderstorm Wind, 2022-04-05Thunderstorm Wind, 2000-08-11, $200,000 property; crops not reported (2000 dollars)Event records naming member places: Charleston city (31 records), North Charleston city (22 records), Rockville town (21 records), Ravenel town (16 records), Folly Beach city (12 records), Hollywood town (12 records), Lincolnville town (10 records), Mount Pleasant town (10 records), Isle of Palms city (8 records), Awendaw town (7 records); and 3 more member places (see the XLSX file).Speeds under 20 kt (likely entry errors) are left out of the observed range.
TornadoEnhanced Fujita (F before Feb 2007)61, 1957 to 2024F/EF0 to F/EF3 (median between F/EF0 and F/EF1); 60 with a recorded valueF3 tornado, 1960-09-11, 8.8 mi path length (records before 1996 may include the whole path; rating and listing come from the county where the tornado began), 100 yd wide, $2,500,000 property; crops not recorded (1960 dollars), 10 direct injuriesEvent records naming member places: Rockville town (6 records), Charleston city (4 records), Isle of Palms city (4 records), Awendaw town (3 records), Lincolnville town (1 record), Ravenel town (1 record).From 1996 on, tornado records are per-county segments and length is the path length within this county (NWS Instruction 10-1605); records before 1996 may give the whole path length, including the path outside this county, and before 1996 a tornado is listed once, under the county where it began, with the whole path's rating; counties farther along the path may not list it. Length is not used to rank tornadoes.
Tsunaminone (count and damage)0Physical measure: in event narratives only; local data required.
Volcanic Ash, Volcanic AshfallVolcanic Explosivity Index (local data)0Physical measure: in event narratives only; local data required.
Wildfireacres burned (local data)4, 2011 to 2025 (4 zone-level)Wildfire, 2011-03-23, $2,000,000 property; $0 crops, reported for the zone (2011 dollars); NWS zone SCZ050 (CHARLESTON), zone-level: may include parts of neighboring countiesZone-level records: applies countywide; national data do not locate these events within the county.Acres burned: in event narratives only; local data required.
Winter Storm, Heavy Snow, Blizzard, Lake-Effect Snow, Winter Weather, Sleetnone in data (snowfall local)12, 2000 to 2026 (12 zone-level)Heavy Snow, 2010-02-12, $50,000 property; $0 crops, reported for the zone (2010 dollars); NWS zone SCZ050 (CHARLESTON), zone-level: may include parts of neighboring countiesZone-level records: applies countywide; national data do not locate these events within the county.Snow depth: in event narratives only; local data required.

Where a hazard names more than 10 member places, the table lists the 10 with the most records; every place is in the XLSX file, sheet "B1-c Extent".

Storm Events records are more complete after 1996; before 1996 only Tornado (from 1950), Hail and Thunderstorm Wind (from 1955) exist. Zone-level records are placed with NWS zone-county files, which exist from 2020 on; an earlier record is placed by its zone number in the nearest later file only when its zone name matches that file, records from zones NWS renumbered are placed by name or left out, and a record whose zone is in no known file is left out of every count, so counts before 2020 can be low. Some current zones are also missing from the NWS files, so recent counts can be low too.

Dollars are nominal (as reported), labeled with the year; not adjusted for inflation.

Sources

NOAA NCEI, NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, details files (csvfiles v1.0), version c20260918, pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/swdi/stormevents/csvfiles/

NOAA National Weather Service, NWS county-public forecast zones correlation file, version bp03mr20 to bp16ap26 (11 files; newest bp16ap26), pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.weather.gov/gis/ZoneCounty

Supports B1-d: previous occurrences

Declaration rows
27
Counted incidents
17

Federal disaster declarations for this county

DeclaredIncident beganFEMA numberTypeTitleMapped hazardCounty Public Assistancefederal share obligated, nominal dollarsFlagsNotes
2026-01-232026-01-21EM-3632-SCEmergencySEVERE WINTER STORMWinter Weathernone foundnew since last plan; within last 5 years
2024-09-262024-09-25EM-3619-SCEmergencyHURRICANE HELENEHurricane (primary); also designated: Inland Flooding, Landslide, Tornadonone foundnew since last plan; within last 5 years
2024-08-052024-08-04EM-3606-SCEmergencyHURRICANE DEBBYHurricane (primary); also designated: Inland Flooding$17,716.50new since last plan; within last 5 years
2023-08-312023-08-29EM-3597-SCEmergencyHURRICANE IDALIAHurricane (primary); also designated: Inland Flooding$446,842.63during plan review, check whether your last plan included it; within last 5 years
2022-11-212022-09-25DR-4677-SCMajor disasterHURRICANE IANHurricane$3,680,870.70within last 5 years
2022-09-292022-09-25EM-3585-SCEmergencyHURRICANE IANHurricanenone foundwithin last 5 yearssame incident as DR-4677
2020-03-272020-01-20DR-4492-SCMajor disasterCOVID-19 PANDEMICNon-natural, not counted$116,433,378.41
2020-03-132020-01-20EM-3470-SCEmergencyCOVID-19Non-natural, not countednone foundsame incident as DR-4492
2019-09-302019-08-31DR-4464-SCMajor disasterHURRICANE DORIANHurricane$14,384,265.88
2019-09-012019-08-31EM-3421-SCEmergencyHURRICANE DORIANHurricanenone foundsame incident as DR-4464
2018-09-162018-09-08DR-4394-SCMajor disasterHURRICANE FLORENCEHurricane$1,952,087.51
2018-09-102018-09-08EM-3400-SCEmergencyHURRICANE FLORENCEHurricanenone foundsame incident as DR-4394
2017-10-162017-09-06DR-4346-SCMajor disasterHURRICANE IRMAHurricane$8,453,784.21
2017-09-072017-09-06EM-3386-SCEmergencyHURRICANE IRMAHurricanenone foundsame incident as DR-4346
2016-10-112016-10-04DR-4286-SCMajor disasterHURRICANE MATTHEWHurricane$18,842,788.04
2016-10-062016-10-04EM-3378-SCEmergencyHURRICANE MATTHEWHurricanenone foundsame incident as DR-4286
2015-10-052015-10-01DR-4241-SCMajor disasterSEVERE STORMS AND FLOODINGInland Flooding$4,574,641.95
2015-10-032015-10-01EM-3373-SCEmergencySEVERE STORMS AND FLOODINGInland Floodingnone foundsame incident as DR-4241
2014-02-122014-02-10EM-3369-SCEmergencySEVERE WINTER STORMIce Stormnone found
2005-09-102005-08-29EM-3233-SCEmergencyHURRICANE KATRINA EVACUATIONHurricane: evacuation support, not a local hazard event; not counted$49,603.08
2004-10-072004-09-06DR-1566-SCMajor disasterTROPICAL STORM FRANCESHurricanePA not declared for this county
2004-09-152004-08-28DR-1547-SCMajor disasterTROPICAL STORM GASTONHurricane$1,918,486.80
2000-01-312000-01-22DR-1313-SCMajor disasterSEVERE WINTER STORMWinter Weathernone found
1999-09-211999-09-14DR-1299-SCMajor disasterHURRICANE FLOYD MAJOR DISASTER DECLARATIONSHurricane$3,971,342.82
1999-09-151999-09-14EM-3145-SCEmergencyHURRICANE FLOYD EMERGENCY DECLARATIONSHurricanenone foundsame incident as DR-1299
1989-09-221989-09-21DR-843-SCMajor disasterHURRICANE HUGOHurricanenone found
1977-08-041977-08-04EM-3047-SCEmergencyDROUGHTDroughtnone found

School districts and special districts in this county: $3,945,468.06 (included in the county total above). Public Assistance matched by applicant name to the school districts and special districts FEMA lists as plan members in this county. They are not shown as member blocks, so their total is listed here. These dollars are already included in the county PA column of the declarations table (the FEMA record places each applicant in this county); do not add this line to the county total.

County Public Assistance: applicants the FEMA record places in this county, including any state agencies FEMA files there; statewide rows are listed on the state page; federal share obligated, nominal dollars.

Dollars are nominal (as reported), labeled with the year; not adjusted for inflation.

Statewide declarations

DeclaredIncident beganFEMA numberTypeTitleMapped hazardFlagsNotes
1955-08-201955-08-20DR-44-SCMajor disasterHURRICANESHurricane (primary); also designated: Inland Flooding
1954-10-171954-10-17DR-29-SCMajor disasterHURRICANEHurricane (primary); also designated: Inland Flooding

FEMA recorded these with designated area Statewide and no county. Listed on every county page in the state; not counted with county rows.

Source

FEMA, OpenFEMA DisasterDeclarationsSummaries v2, version 2026-09-27T010817Z, pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v2/DisasterDeclarationsSummaries (API)

Public Assistance filed under this county for declarations that do not list it: 1 row, $63,419.59

FEMA numberDeclaredTitleApplicantPA obligatedfederal share obligated, nominal dollars
DR-4166-SC2014-03-12SEVERE WINTER STORMNorth Charleston, City of$63,419.59

FEMA's Public Assistance summaries file these applicants under this county, but FEMA's declaration rows for these disasters do not designate it (an electric cooperative or district serving several counties, for example). Not in any declaration row above and not counted.

Previous occurrences by hazard, with explicit no-event rows

HazardStorm Events recordsfull periodSince plan approvalrecordsDuring plan reviewrecordsLast 5 yearsrecordsDeclared incidentsdistinct incidentsDeclared since approvaldistinct incidentsPeriodStatement
Avalanche0000001996 to 2026-06-30No recorded events, 1996 to 2026-06-30, NOAA NCEI Storm Events
Coastal Flooding855517001996 to 2026-06-30
Cold Wave6304001996 to 2026-06-30Includes 2 Frost/Freeze records, event types the NRI definition of this hazard leaves out.
Drought20000101996 to 2026-06-30
Earthquake000000No Storm Events record; local data required (e.g., USGS).
Hail3003414001955 to 2026-06-30
Heat Wave19000001996 to 2026-06-30
Hurricane362141221996 to 2026-06-30Includes 4 Tropical Depression records, event types the NRI definition of this hazard leaves out.
Ice Storm4000101996 to 2026-06-30
Inland Flooding311681184421996 to 2026-06-30
Landslide0000111996 to 2026-06-30No Storm Events records of this type; 1 federal declared incident (see declarations table)
Lightning474010001996 to 2026-06-30
Strong Wind677312689001955 to 2026-06-30Includes 10 High Wind records and 43 Strong Wind records, event types the NRI definition of this hazard leaves out.
Tornado619111111950 to 2026-06-30
Tsunami0000001996 to 2026-06-30No recorded events, 1996 to 2026-06-30, NOAA NCEI Storm Events
Volcanic Activity0000001996 to 2026-06-30No recorded events, 1996 to 2026-06-30, NOAA NCEI Storm Events
Wildfire4102001996 to 2026-06-30
Winter Weather12507211996 to 2026-06-30

Sources

NOAA NCEI, NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, details files (csvfiles v1.0), version c20260918, pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/swdi/stormevents/csvfiles/

FEMA, OpenFEMA DisasterDeclarationsSummaries v2, version 2026-09-27T010817Z, pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v2/DisasterDeclarationsSummaries (API)

NOAA National Weather Service, NWS county-public forecast zones correlation file, version bp03mr20 to bp16ap26 (11 files; newest bp16ap26), pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.weather.gov/gis/ZoneCounty

Notable Storm Events records

DateEvent typeMagnitude or extentDamagenominal dollarsDirect deaths, injuriesindirect not countedLocationFlagsWhy listed
2024-01-09High Wind60 kt (69 mph) measured gustproperty not reported; $0 crops, reported for the zone (2024 dollars)0, 0NWS zone SCZ050 (CHARLESTON), zone-level: may include parts of neighboring countiesduring plan review, check whether your last plan included it; within last 5 yearsB1-c worst recorded: High Wind and Strong Wind (outside NRI Strong Wind definition)
2023-12-17Flash Flood$0 property; $0 crops (2023 dollars)1, 0SNOWDENduring plan review, check whether your last plan included it; within last 5 yearsdeaths or injuries recorded
2022-04-05Thunderstorm Wind83 kt (96 mph) estimated gustdamage not reported0, 0RANTOWLES to MORRIS ACRESwithin last 5 yearsB1-c worst recorded: Thunderstorm Wind
2012-08-28Flash Flood$750,000 property; $0 crops (2012 dollars)0, 0CHARLESTONB1-c worst recorded: Flash Flood, Flood, Lakeshore Flood
2011-03-23Wildfire$2,000,000 property; $0 crops, reported for the zone (2011 dollars)0, 0NWS zone SCZ050 (CHARLESTON), zone-level: may include parts of neighboring countiesB1-c worst recorded: Wildfire
2011-01-10Ice Storm$150,000 property; $0 crops, reported for the zone (2011 dollars)0, 0NWS zone SCZ050 (CHARLESTON), zone-level: may include parts of neighboring countiesB1-c worst recorded: Ice Storm
2009-06-22Coastal Flood$100,000 property; crops not reported, reported for the zone (2009 dollars)0, 0NWS zone SCZ050 (CHARLESTON), zone-level: may include parts of neighboring countiesB1-c worst recorded: Coastal Flood, Storm Surge/Tide
2008-04-15Strong Wind40 kt (46 mph) estimated gust$5,000 property; $0 crops, reported for the zone (2008 dollars)2, 2NWS zone SCZ050 (CHARLESTON), zone-level: may include parts of neighboring countiesdeaths or injuries recorded
1999-08-01Heatdamage not reported6, 0NWS zone SCZ050 (CHARLESTON), zone-level: may include parts of neighboring countiesdeaths or injuries recorded
1996-07-12Hurricane (Typhoon)damage not reported0, 0NWS zone SCZ050 (CHARLESTON), zone-level: may include parts of neighboring countiesB1-c worst recorded: Hurricane, Tropical Storm, Tropical Depression
1996-02-03Cold/Wind Chilldamage not reported1, 0NWS zone SCZ050 (CHARLESTON), zone-level: may include parts of neighboring countiesB1-c worst recorded: Cold/Wind Chill, Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
1960-09-11TornadoF3, 8.8 mi path length (records before 1996 may include the whole path; rating and listing come from the county where the tornado began), 100 yd wide$2,500,000 property; crops not recorded (1960 dollars)0, 10location not recordedB1-c worst recorded: Tornado

The full list is in the XLSX file, sheet "B1-d Storm Events history" (1,582 rows).

Storm Events records are more complete after 1996; before 1996 only Tornado (from 1950), Hail and Thunderstorm Wind (from 1955) exist. Zone-level records are placed with NWS zone-county files, which exist from 2020 on; an earlier record is placed by its zone number in the nearest later file only when its zone name matches that file, records from zones NWS renumbered are placed by name or left out, and a record whose zone is in no known file is left out of every count, so counts before 2020 can be low. Some current zones are also missing from the NWS files, so recent counts can be low too.

Sources

NOAA NCEI, NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, details files (csvfiles v1.0), version c20260918, pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/swdi/stormevents/csvfiles/

NOAA National Weather Service, NWS county-public forecast zones correlation file, version bp03mr20 to bp16ap26 (11 files; newest bp16ap26), pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.weather.gov/gis/ZoneCounty

FEMA, OpenFEMA HazardMitigationPlanStatuses v1, version 2026-09-26T121003Z, pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v1/HazardMitigationPlanStatuses (API)

State-declared emergencies are not in federal data. Add them from your state emergency management agency.

Tribal and special-area declarations in this state are listed on the state page.

Supports B1-e: probability

Probability: FEMA annualized frequency and descriptor per hazard

HazardFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)unit per rowUnitIn plain termsDescriptorDescriptor basisNRI events or days in its record period (hail, wind and tornado are area-weighted, so can be fractional)NRI periodLocationNote
Avalancheevents per year1994 to 2023 (30 years)see B1-fNot Applicable in NRI for this county; no descriptor.
Coastal Flooding3.65events per year at a location (modeled)about 3.6 per year at a given location in the countyHighly likelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)not shownmodeledsee B1-fDescriptor from NRI: the rate at a location is 1 or more a year, so the county rate is at least that.
Cold Wave0.79event-days per yearabout 0.79 days per yearPossibleevent-days in 2 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (6.67%)152005-11-12 to 2024-11-12 (19 years)countywideFrost/Freeze records are not counted in this descriptor: they record crop freezes, not cold waves.
Drought15.3event-days per yearabout 15.3 days per yearLikelyevent-days in 5 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (16.7%)5462000 to 2025 (25.25 years; D3 and D4 only)countywideNRI gives about 15.3 drought event-days a year here (its annualized frequency over 25.25 years; not its event count divided by the years), but Storm Events has a record in only 5 of 30 years. NRI counts from a different source that records far more events than Storm Events, so this descriptor reads much lower than NRI's frequency; read the two together.
Earthquake0.00629annual probability at a locationchance a given location in the county has at least minor-damage shaking in a year: 0.629%not shownmodeledsee B1-fDescriptor not assigned: the NRI value is the chance at a location in the county, not how often the hazard affects the county, and Storm Events does not record earthquakes.
Hail2.2events per yearabout 2.2 per yearHighly likelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)92.8 (modeled)1986 to 2023 (38 years)countywide
Heat Wave9.58event-days per yearabout 9.58 days per yearLikelyevent-days in 10 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (33.3%)1612005-11-12 to 2024-11-12 (19 years)countywideNRI gives about 9.58 heat wave event-days a year here (its annualized frequency over 19 years; not its event count divided by the years), but Storm Events has a record in only 10 of 30 years. NRI counts from a different source that records far more events than Storm Events, so this descriptor reads much lower than NRI's frequency; read the two together.
Hurricane0.338events per yearabout 1 in 3 yearsLikelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)1261851 to 2024 (Atlantic)see B1-fNRI counts hurricane and tropical storm tracks passing within storm-force wind range; federal declarations are counted separately in B1-d and need not match.
Ice Storm0.879event-days per yearabout 0.879 days per yearLikelyevent-days in 3 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (10%)471946-12-31 to 2014-02-12 (67 years)countywide
Inland Flooding3.54event-days per yearabout 3.54 days per yearHighly likelyevent-days in 27 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (90%)991996 to 2023 (28 years)see B1-f
Landslide0.205events per year (modeled)about 1 in 5 yearsLikelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)not shownmodeledsee B1-f
Lightning63.3days per year with a strikeabout 63.3 days per yearHighly likelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)not shown1995 to 2023 (29 years; CONUS)countywide
Strong Wind1.6events per yearabout 1.6 per yearHighly likelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)481986 to 2023 (38 years)countywide
Tornado0.491events per yearabout 1 in 2 yearsLikelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)not shown1950 to 2023 (EF2+); 1986 to 2023 (EF0-1)see B1-f
Tsunamiannual probability at the most exposed location (used in place of a county value)Storm Events records in 0 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (0%)not shownmodeledsee B1-fNo Storm Events record of this hazard, 1996 to 2025; descriptor not assigned (the NRI value is the chance at a location in the county, not how often the hazard affects the county)
Volcanic Activityannual probabilitynot shownmodeledsee B1-fNot Applicable in NRI for this county; no descriptor.
Wildfire0.00226annual probability at a locationchance a given location in the county burns in a year: 0.226%LikelyStorm Events records in 4 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (13.3%)not shownmodeledsee B1-fDescriptor from Storm Events, not NRI: the NRI value is the chance at a location in the county, not how often the hazard affects the county.
Winter Weather0.948event-days per yearabout 0.948 days per yearLikelyevent-days in 6 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (20%)182005-11-12 to 2024-11-12 (19 years)countywide

FEMA annualized frequency (modeled) comes from the National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025). It is not recorded events divided by years, and what it measures depends on the hazard. For most hazards it estimates how often the hazard affects this county each year: it counts events or event-days (drought, heat wave, cold wave, winter weather, ice storm and inland flooding are in days per year; lightning is the number of days per year with a recorded cloud-to-ground strike, from the NOAA Storm Prediction Center daily lightning climatology); it may count events in the surrounding area (hail, strong wind, tornado, hurricane and ice storm use a 49 km grid and buffers) and is averaged over the county's area; and some hazards use a minimum value for places with no recorded event. Earthquake, wildfire and coastal flooding are different: FEMA computes them for each census block and averages them over the county, so the value is the chance (for coastal flooding, the modeled number of floods per year) at a location in the county, which is lower than the chance that the hazard strikes somewhere in the county. Earthquake is the chance of at least minor-damage shaking (U.S. Geological Survey model); wildfire is the chance that a location burns in a large fire (U.S. Forest Service burn probability); coastal flooding comes from FEMA flood zones and NOAA high-tide flooding, so it can be above 1 where high-tide flooding is frequent. Tsunami is the value at the county's most exposed location, from recorded events and modeled return periods. For these four hazards the packet gives no "1 in N years" and takes the descriptor from Storm Events (none for earthquake) unless the value is 1 or more a year. Landslide is a U.S. Geological Survey modeled county rate spread by slope susceptibility. Volcanic activity is the chance that a volcano affecting the county erupts in a year. Drought counts only extreme and exceptional drought (D3 and D4). Source: FEMA, National Risk Index Technical Documentation v1.20, sections 5.2.2 (Table 5), 5.2.3, 7.4, 10.4, 16.5, 17.1, 17.3.1, 17.5, 20.3.1, 21.4, 22.4 and 6 to 23.

Sources

FEMA, FEMA National Risk Index 1.20.0 (December 2025), county and census tract tables, version 1.20.0, pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.fema.gov/about/reports-and-data/openfema/nri/v120/NRI_Table_Counties.zip (download, 25 MB), https://www.fema.gov/about/reports-and-data/openfema/nri/v120/NRI_Table_CensusTracts.zip (download, 635 MB)

NOAA NCEI, NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, details files (csvfiles v1.0), version c20260918, pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/swdi/stormevents/csvfiles/

Descriptor scale used in this packet (defined per unit)

UnitDescriptorDefinition
events per yearHighly likely1 or more per year
events per yearLikelyabout once in 1 to 10 years
events per yearPossibleabout once in 10 to 100 years
events per yearUnlikelyless than once in 100 years
annual probabilityLikely10% to under 100% chance in a given year
annual probabilityPossible1% to under 10% chance in a given year
annual probabilityUnlikelyunder 1% chance in a given year
event-days (share of years)Highly likelyevent-days recorded in 90% or more of years
event-days (share of years)Likelyevent-days recorded in 10% to under 90% of years
event-days (share of years)Possibleevent-days recorded in some years but under 10% of years
lightning strike-daysHighly likelycloud-to-ground strikes on 1 or more days per year

Sources

FEMA, FEMA National Risk Index 1.20.0 (December 2025), county and census tract tables, version 1.20.0, pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.fema.gov/about/reports-and-data/openfema/nri/v120/NRI_Table_Counties.zip (download, 25 MB), https://www.fema.gov/about/reports-and-data/openfema/nri/v120/NRI_Table_CensusTracts.zip (download, 635 MB)

NOAA NCEI, NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, details files (csvfiles v1.0), version c20260918, pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/swdi/stormevents/csvfiles/

Intensity bands: historical frequency (Storm Events)

HazardBandYearsEventscounty-coded recordsYears in periodEvents per yearevents / years
Hail1.00-1.99 in1996 to 2025147304.9
Hail2.00 in+1996 to 20253300.1
Strong Wind (Thunderstorm Wind records)50-64 kt1996 to 20254653015.5
Strong Wind (Thunderstorm Wind records)65 kt+1996 to 202515300.5
Strong Wind (Thunderstorm Wind records)unmeasured or below 50 kt1996 to 202536301.2
TornadoEF0-11996 to 202541301.37
TornadoEF2-31996 to 20252300.0667
TornadoEF4-51996 to 20250300
Tornadounrated (EFU)1996 to 20250300

Hail smaller than 1 inch is not counted: on 2010-01-05 the National Weather Service raised its severe-hail threshold from 3/4 inch to 1 inch, so smaller reports became less common after 2009 (NWS Service Change Notice 09-52). NRI hail frequency uses a 0.75 inch threshold.

Source

NOAA NCEI, NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, details files (csvfiles v1.0), version c20260918, pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/swdi/stormevents/csvfiles/

Optional: future conditions. Not a required item in the 2025 FEMA Local Mitigation Planning Policy Guide; some states ask for it. The federal Climate Mapping for Resilience and Adaptation (CMRA) site gives county exposure to future climate conditions.

Supports B1-f: variation across the planning area

Range of census tract risk within the county

HazardTractsrated of allRisk score minNRI score, 0 to 100MedianMaxTracts by ratingNote
Avalanche0 of 98Not Applicable 98
Coastal Flooding94 of 9869.797.2100.0Very High 12, Relatively High 49, Relatively Moderate 19, Relatively Low 11, Very Low 3, No Rating 4
Cold Wave98 of 9824.250.478.7Relatively High 2, Relatively Moderate 59, Relatively Low 37National data give a county-wide or coarse (49 km grid or NWS zone) frequency for this hazard, so they cannot show members' hazard differing. The tract range above mostly reflects where buildings and people are. Confirm locally.
Drought21 of 9866.877.589.3Relatively Low 9, Very Low 12, No Rating 77National data give a county-wide or coarse (49 km grid or NWS zone) frequency for this hazard, so they cannot show members' hazard differing. Agriculture is all of NRI's expected annual loss for this hazard in the county, so the tract range above mostly reflects where crop and livestock value is, not where buildings and people are. Confirm locally.
Earthquake98 of 9879.588.999.2Very High 10, Relatively High 42, Relatively Moderate 46
Hail98 of 9820.138.363.8Relatively Low 54, Very Low 44National data give a county-wide or coarse (49 km grid or NWS zone) frequency for this hazard, so they cannot show members' hazard differing. The tract range above mostly reflects where buildings and people are. Confirm locally.
Heat Wave98 of 984.022.259.4Relatively Moderate 4, Relatively Low 68, Very Low 26National data give a county-wide or coarse (49 km grid or NWS zone) frequency for this hazard, so they cannot show members' hazard differing. The tract range above mostly reflects where buildings and people are. Confirm locally.
Hurricane98 of 9891.698.099.9Very High 71, Relatively High 27
Ice Storm98 of 9843.775.991.9Relatively High 5, Relatively Moderate 72, Relatively Low 21National data give a county-wide or coarse (49 km grid or NWS zone) frequency for this hazard, so they cannot show members' hazard differing. The tract range above mostly reflects where buildings and people are. Confirm locally.
Inland Flooding98 of 981.222.186.7Relatively High 2, Relatively Moderate 18, Relatively Low 47, Very Low 31
Landslide74 of 9812.345.978.5Very Low 74, No Rating 24
Lightning98 of 9818.753.787.6Relatively High 11, Relatively Moderate 49, Relatively Low 37, Very Low 1National data give a county-wide or coarse (49 km grid or NWS zone) frequency for this hazard, so they cannot show members' hazard differing. The tract range above mostly reflects where buildings and people are. Confirm locally.
Strong Wind98 of 9816.042.689.8Relatively High 1, Relatively Moderate 18, Relatively Low 76, Very Low 3National data give a county-wide or coarse (49 km grid or NWS zone) frequency for this hazard, so they cannot show members' hazard differing. The tract range above mostly reflects where buildings and people are. Confirm locally.
Tornado98 of 9815.933.661.4Relatively Moderate 1, Relatively Low 76, Very Low 21
Tsunami0 of 98Insufficient Data 98
Volcanic Activity0 of 98Not Applicable 98
Wildfire89 of 9819.984.697.4Relatively High 1, Relatively Moderate 31, Relatively Low 37, Very Low 20, No Rating 9
Winter Weather98 of 9827.248.974.2Relatively Moderate 53, Relatively Low 45National data give a county-wide or coarse (49 km grid or NWS zone) frequency for this hazard, so they cannot show members' hazard differing. The tract range above mostly reflects where buildings and people are. Confirm locally.

Rated tracts only: No Rating (score 0.0), Not Applicable and Insufficient Data tracts are counted but not used for the minimum, median and maximum.

Source

FEMA, FEMA National Risk Index 1.20.0 (December 2025), county and census tract tables, version 1.20.0, pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.fema.gov/about/reports-and-data/openfema/nri/v120/NRI_Table_Counties.zip (download, 25 MB), https://www.fema.gov/about/reports-and-data/openfema/nri/v120/NRI_Table_CensusTracts.zip (download, 635 MB)

Per-member block (Starter, confirm locally)

MemberTypePlan statusRepetitive lossFMA RL and SRL (44 CFR 77.2); repeat-flood, any definitionPublic Assistance matchedfederal share obligated, nominal dollarsEvent records naming this placeall years; since the member's planNotes
Charleston County (unincorporated area)UnincorporatedApproved, expires 2029-03-19FMA RL 10, SRL 35; any 206$25,620,481.210; 0
Awendaw townTownApproved, expires 2029-03-19FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 1$2,589.5829; 2
Charleston cityCityApproved, expires 2029-03-19FMA RL 53, SRL 144; any 753$9,019,120.03143; 24Whole community, including 2 properties with no county in FEMA's file; in-county portion (county table): FMA RL 53, FMA SRL 144, NFIP RL 709, NFIP SRL 99, any category 751. Includes $81,057.22 for declarations not counted as hazard incidents (DR-4492-SC, EM-3233-SC).
Folly Beach cityCityApproved, expires 2029-03-19FMA RL 1, SRL 10; any 50$676,352.0120; 1
Hollywood townTownApproved, expires 2029-03-19FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 4$288,752.8816; 0
Isle of Palms cityCityApproved, expires 2029-03-19FMA RL 0, SRL 8; any 53$4,360,907.4817; 1Includes $9,040.47 for declarations not counted as hazard incidents (DR-4492-SC).
James Island townTownApproved, expires 2029-03-19FMA RL 0, SRL 1; any 19$18,717.511; 0
Kiawah Island townTownApproved, expires 2029-03-19FMA RL 0, SRL 1; any 14$412,577.140; 0
Lincolnville townTownApproved, expires 2029-03-19FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0$14,186.7014; 2
McClellanville townTownApproved, expires 2029-03-19FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 1$3,7201; 0
Meggett townTownApproved, expires 2029-03-19FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 2$45,391.124; 0
Mount Pleasant townTownApproved, expires 2029-03-19FMA RL 1, SRL 9; any 60$5,378,958.6630; 2Also approved under plan 109525 (Mount Pleasant, expires 2029-02-20). FEMA's plan status map shows one plan per jurisdiction and may show one of these; this packet uses the approved plan that expires last. Includes $18,574.41 for declarations not counted as hazard incidents (DR-4492-SC).
North Charleston cityCityApproved, expires 2029-03-19FMA RL 14, SRL 18; any 97$3,926,346.9646; 0Whole community, including the part in Dorchester County; in-county portion (county table): FMA RL 14, FMA SRL 18, NFIP RL 94, NFIP SRL 19, any category 94. Includes $145,454.38 for declarations not counted as hazard incidents (DR-4492-SC, EM-3233-SC).
Ravenel townTownApproved, expires 2029-03-19FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0none found24; 0
Rockville townTownApproved, expires 2029-03-19FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0none found32; 3
Seabrook Island townTownApproved, expires 2029-03-19FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 14$196,435.110; 0
Sullivan's Island townTownApproved, expires 2029-03-19FMA RL 0, SRL 2; any 27$276,129.510; 0Includes $20,322.15 for declarations not counted as hazard incidents (DR-4492-SC).
Summerville townTownExpired on 2026-07-06FMA RL 5, SRL 1; any 17none found0; 0Whole community, including the part in Dorchester County; none of its repeat-flood properties are in this county.

Member rows are whole NFIP communities and need not add up to the county total: a community that extends into another county is counted in full on each member row, while the county table counts only its part in this county.

School districts and special districts get a plan clock row only.

Sources

FEMA, OpenFEMA HazardMitigationPlanStatuses v1, version 2026-09-26T121003Z, pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v1/HazardMitigationPlanStatuses (API)

FEMA, OpenFEMA NfipMultipleLossProperties v1, version 2026-08-04T164045Z, pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v1/NfipMultipleLossProperties (API)

FEMA, OpenFEMA PublicAssistanceFundedProjectsSummaries v1, version 2026-09-26T151157Z, pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v1/PublicAssistanceFundedProjectsSummaries (API)

NOAA NCEI, NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, details files (csvfiles v1.0), version c20260918, pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/swdi/stormevents/csvfiles/

Supports B2-a and B2-b: assets and impacts

Local data required

County-level starter. The plan must describe impacts for each participant and its own assets.

  • Critical facilities and lifelines per hazard
  • A problem statement per participant per hazard
  • Changes in development in hazard-prone areas since the last approval, or a statement of none (E1-a)
  • Future assets

County-level starter: exposure, expected annual loss and damage since the plan

HazardBuilding exposuremodeled dollarsAgriculture exposuremodeled dollarsPopulation exposedpeopleEAL buildingsmodeled dollars per yearEAL agriculturemodeled dollars per yearEAL population equivalencestatistical value of life and injury, $13.7M per life, not property damageEAL as % of exposurebuildings; agriculture where notedStorm Events damage since 2024-03-20county-coded records, property plus crops, nominal dollarsZone-level damage since planproperty plus crops, reported for the zonePublic Assistance since plannominal dollars; see noteNote
AvalancheNot Applicable in NRI for this county
Coastal Flooding$56,286,279,045217,192$31,731,585$3,902,5870.0564%$0
Cold Wave$96,535,065,240$28,818,205407,722$53,389$17,708$6,523,611under 0.0001%$0
Drought$19,257,704$50,0040.26% (agriculture)NRI has no building exposure for this hazard; agriculture shown
Earthquake$163,834,022,184408,235$68,175,993$49,816,9940.0416%
Hail$96,535,065,240$28,818,205407,722$33,841$727$416,771under 0.0001%$0
Heat Wave$96,535,065,240$28,818,205407,722$625$75$2,034,056under 0.0001%
Hurricane$96,527,428,083$28,818,205407,701$263,973,600$428,384$16,931,1640.273%$177,000$17,716.50
Ice Storm$96,399,559,222407,508$1,538,417$213,4530.0016%
Inland Flooding$96,433,017,460$8,692,211118,923$42,615,234$406,115$1,188,544n/a (see note)$0$17,716.50NRI counts the full building value of any census block with some flood loss; this is not the value of buildings in the floodplain. Use local FIRM overlays for B2-a/B2-b. EAL as % of exposure: n/a.
Landslide$73,189,773237$649$10.000887%none found (1 declaration)
Lightning$96,535,065,240407,722$86,270$1,570,620under 0.0001%$29,000
Strong Wind$96,535,065,240$28,818,205407,722$51,576$154$1,638,459under 0.0001%$63,000
Tornado$96,535,065,240$28,818,205407,722$767,451$474$2,251,3370.000795%$0none found (1 declaration)
TsunamiNRI publishes no building exposure for this county
Volcanic ActivityNot Applicable in NRI for this county
Wildfire$17,025,121,268$16,877,79196,339$2,832,936$296$244,6260.0166%
Winter Weather$96,535,065,240$28,818,205407,722$91,917$15$209,072under 0.0001%$0none found (1 declaration)

Totals since 2024-03-20 (Storm Events through 2026-06-30): 114 county-coded records, 93 with a damage value recorded (including $0), $92,000; 17 zone-level records, 11 with a damage value recorded (including $0), $177,000 reported for the zone; Public Assistance on counted declarations $17,716.50 (3 declarations, 1 with PA).

Total = buildings + agriculture + population equivalence; FEMA values each expected death (or 10 injuries) at $13.7 million (2024 dollars).

FEMA does not split Public Assistance by hazard. A declaration mapped to several hazards is listed under each of them with its full amount, so the per-hazard column must not be added up; the unit total counts each declaration once.

Dollars are nominal (as reported), labeled with the year; not adjusted for inflation.

Sources

FEMA, FEMA National Risk Index 1.20.0 (December 2025), county and census tract tables, version 1.20.0, pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.fema.gov/about/reports-and-data/openfema/nri/v120/NRI_Table_Counties.zip (download, 25 MB), https://www.fema.gov/about/reports-and-data/openfema/nri/v120/NRI_Table_CensusTracts.zip (download, 635 MB)

NOAA NCEI, NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, details files (csvfiles v1.0), version c20260918, pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/swdi/stormevents/csvfiles/

NOAA National Weather Service, NWS county-public forecast zones correlation file, version bp03mr20 to bp16ap26 (11 files; newest bp16ap26), pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.weather.gov/gis/ZoneCounty

FEMA, OpenFEMA DisasterDeclarationsSummaries v2, version 2026-09-27T010817Z, pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v2/DisasterDeclarationsSummaries (API)

FEMA, OpenFEMA PublicAssistanceFundedProjectsSummaries v1, version 2026-09-26T151157Z, pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v1/PublicAssistanceFundedProjectsSummaries (API)

FEMA, OpenFEMA HazardMitigationPlanStatuses v1, version 2026-09-26T121003Z, pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v1/HazardMitigationPlanStatuses (API)

Supports B2-a: context

County context

MeasureValue
Population407,722
Building value (total, not at risk)$96,535,065,240
Agriculture value (total, not at risk)$28,818,205
NRI risk rating (all hazards)Relatively High
Expected annual loss, buildings and agriculture, all hazards$412,857,434
Expected annual loss, population equivalence, all hazards (NRI values each statistical life at $13.7M; a modeled value of expected deaths and injuries, not property damage)$86,941,295
Social vulnerability ratingRelatively Low
Community resilience ratingVery High
NRI versionDecember 2025

FEMA's all-hazard expected annual loss total adds buildings, agriculture and population equivalence; the two parts are shown separately so the property figure is not read as including the statistical value of life.

Source

FEMA, FEMA National Risk Index 1.20.0 (December 2025), county and census tract tables, version 1.20.0, pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.fema.gov/about/reports-and-data/openfema/nri/v120/NRI_Table_Counties.zip (download, 25 MB), https://www.fema.gov/about/reports-and-data/openfema/nri/v120/NRI_Table_CensusTracts.zip (download, 635 MB)

Supports B2-c: repetitive loss

Repetitive loss in this county, both definitions

DefinitionPropertiesSevere repetitive lossProperties
Repetitive loss, FMA definition (44 CFR 77.2)79Severe repetitive loss, FMA definition (44 CFR 77.2)228
Repetitive loss, NFIP insurance definition1,245Severe repetitive loss, NFIP insurance definition177

Your state NFIP coordinator's list may use the NFIP insurance definition, so its counts can be higher.

Repeat-flood properties: county and state-level rows

ScopeRL, FMApropertiesSRL, FMApropertiesRL, NFIPpropertiesSRL, NFIPpropertiesAny categorypropertiesMitigatedpropertiesCurrently insuredproperties
County total792281,2451771,29645821
HOLLYWOOD, TOWN OF0040403
MCCLELLANVILLE, TOWN OF0010100
MEGGETT, TOWN OF0020201
NORTH CHARLESTON, CITY OF1418941994050
SEABROOK ISLAND, TOWN OF0014014011
KIAWAH ISLAND, TOWN OF0114114010
AWENDAW, TOWN OF0010101
JAMES ISLAND, TOWN OF0119119017
CHARLESTON, CITY OF531447099975140509
CHARLESTON COUNTY*1035204342061124
FOLLY BEACH, CITY OF110501050016
ISLE OF PALMS, CITY OF0848453333
MOUNT PLEASANT, TOWN OF1959860129
SULLIVANS ISLAND, TOWN OF0226127017
State level, not in this county: county not reported0020200

Repeat-flood properties by plan member (NFIP community)

MemberNFIP community IDRL, FMApropertiesSRL, FMApropertiesRL, NFIPpropertiesSRL, NFIPpropertiesAny categorypropertiesMitigatedpropertiesCurrently insuredpropertiesNote
Charleston County (unincorporated area)4554131035204342061124
Awendaw town4502620010101
Charleston city455412531447119975340509Whole community, including 2 properties with no county in FEMA's file; in-county portion (county table): FMA RL 53, FMA SRL 144, NFIP RL 709, NFIP SRL 99, any category 751.
Folly Beach city455415110501050016
Hollywood town4500370040403
Isle of Palms city4554160848453333
James Island town4502630119119017
Kiawah Island town4502570114114010
Lincolnville town4502330000000
McClellanville town4500390010100
Meggett town4500400020201
Mount Pleasant town4554171959860129
North Charleston city4500421418971997052Whole community, including the part in Dorchester County; in-county portion (county table): FMA RL 14, FMA SRL 18, NFIP RL 94, NFIP SRL 19, any category 94.
Ravenel town4500430000000
Rockville town4502490000000
Seabrook Island town4502560014014011
Sullivan's Island town4554180226127017
Summerville town4500735117117013Whole community, including the part in Dorchester County; none of its repeat-flood properties are in this county.

Per-member types: XLSX sheet 'B2-c Members'.

Member rows are whole NFIP communities and need not add up to the county total: a community that extends into another county is counted in full on each member row, while the county table counts only its part in this county.

County repeat-flood properties by occupancy group

Occupancy groupRL, FMApropertiesSRL, FMApropertiesRL, NFIPpropertiesSRL, NFIPpropertiesAny categorypropertiesMitigatedpropertiesCurrently insuredproperties
single-family residential741811,0081321,05643707
2 to 4 unit residential213831185238
other residential318641964042
non-residential016901591034
not reported0000000

Institutional properties cannot be separated in this data: FEMA's occupancy groups have no institutional class, so they fall in non-residential or other residential in the table by occupancy group.

FMA RL and FMA SRL are the Flood Mitigation Assistance definitions (44 CFR 77.2), the ones the FEMA Local Mitigation Planning Policy Guide cites; OpenFEMA's fmaRl field description omits the Increased Cost of Compliance clause of 44 CFR 77.2(i). NFIP repetitive loss (FEMA insurance definition, nfipRl) is 2 or more claims over $1,000 in 10 years and can drop to false when a property is mitigated. Also shown: NFIP severe repetitive loss, any category, mitigated and currently insured.

Your state NFIP coordinator's list may use the NFIP insurance definition, so its counts can be higher.

Counts are aggregates of FEMA's public NFIP Multiple Loss Properties file (as of 2026-08-02). No property is identified. County assignment is FEMA's geocode.

Counts may differ from your state NFIP coordinator's list, which is the source the Handbook names.

In this county 25 properties are FMA repetitive loss but not NFIP repetitive loss, and 1,191 properties are NFIP repetitive loss but not FMA repetitive loss.

Exact counts; no count suppression.

Sources

Every table above lists its own sources. The full list, for the plan's bibliography (FEMA review item A4-a):

  1. FEMA, OpenFEMA HazardMitigationPlanStatuses v1, version 2026-09-26T121003Z, pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v1/HazardMitigationPlanStatuses (API)
  2. FEMA, OpenFEMA DisasterDeclarationsSummaries v2, version 2026-09-27T010817Z, pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v2/DisasterDeclarationsSummaries (API)
  3. FEMA, OpenFEMA PublicAssistanceFundedProjectsSummaries v1, version 2026-09-26T151157Z, pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v1/PublicAssistanceFundedProjectsSummaries (API)
  4. FEMA, OpenFEMA NfipMultipleLossProperties v1, version 2026-08-04T164045Z, pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v1/NfipMultipleLossProperties (API)
  5. FEMA, FEMA National Risk Index 1.20.0 (December 2025), county and census tract tables, version 1.20.0, pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.fema.gov/about/reports-and-data/openfema/nri/v120/NRI_Table_Counties.zip (download, 25 MB), https://www.fema.gov/about/reports-and-data/openfema/nri/v120/NRI_Table_CensusTracts.zip (download, 635 MB)
  6. NOAA NCEI, NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, details files (csvfiles v1.0), version c20260918, pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/swdi/stormevents/csvfiles/
  7. NOAA National Weather Service, NWS county-public forecast zones correlation file, version bp03mr20 to bp16ap26 (11 files; newest bp16ap26), pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.weather.gov/gis/ZoneCounty
  8. U.S. Census Bureau, Census 2024 Gazetteer, 2020 place by county, CT county-to-cousub crosswalk, version 2024-gazetteer, pulled 2026-09-28, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_counties_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_cousubs_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_place_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_unsd_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_elsd_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_scsd_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/reference/codes2020/national_place_by_county2020.txt, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/reference/ct_change/ct_cou_to_cousub_crosswalk.xlsx

OpenFEMA disclaimer

This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).

Hazard Plain is an independent product built from public federal data. It is not a FEMA document and is not reviewed or endorsed by FEMA or any state agency.

Reuse, citation and corrections

Reuse and citation: Hazard Plain text and tables are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/); credit Hazard Plain and the release. The underlying federal data are public domain; OpenFEMA data are also subject to the OpenFEMA terms and conditions.

Cite this: Hazard Plain (2026). Charleston County, SC: risk-assessment baseline packet, release 2026-10 (data as of 2026-09-28; County area 45019). Preview: automated baseline. Built from FEMA OpenFEMA, the FEMA National Risk Index and NOAA NCEI Storm Events; source versions in the packet's Sources list.

Corrections: to report an error, name the packet, the table and what your records show. Contact: to be added

Hazard Plain release 2026-10. As of 2026-09-28; Storm Events data through 2026-06-30. File hazard-plain_2026-10_SC_45019. Preview: automated baseline.