Flood insurance in South Carolina

Flood insurance policies, average premiums, flood zones and claims history for South Carolina, county by county, from official FEMA records.

Policies as of 5 September 2026Source: FEMA OpenFEMA
Active flood policies
190,498
NFIP policies in force
Average yearly premium
$1,114
$156 below the US average
Claims paid since 1978
$1.0B
across 49,622 claims
Policies in high-risk zones
63%
zones A and V, where known

Flood claims paid per year

NFIP claims paid in South Carolina, 2000–2026

The three costliest years. The worst was 2016, with $169.4 million paid on 7,265 claims.

Insured buildings by flood zone

Zone V / VE6%
Coastal high-hazard areas with wave action. Flood insurance is required with a federally backed mortgage.
Zone A / AE56%
High-risk areas with a 1% chance of flooding each year. Insurance is required with a federally backed mortgage.
Zone X, B, C37%
Moderate to low risk. Insurance is optional, and policies are usually much cheaper.

Zone not reported for 37% of policies; shares are of policies with a known zone.

Costliest flood events

Named events by NFIP claims paid in South Carolina

EventYearClaimsPaid
Hurricane Hugo198914,728$361.1 million
Hurricane Matthew20167,000$167.4 million
October severe storms20155,279$141.5 million
Hurricane Florence20181,404$105.4 million
Hurricane Irma20172,363$56.1 million

Flood insurance by county

Counties in South Carolina with detailed pages, by number of policies. 25 smaller counties are included in the state totals.

CountyPoliciesAvg premiumClaims since 1978Paid
Charleston County60,058$1,09619,289$312.2 million
Horry County52,517$1,18712,525$338.2 million
Beaufort County45,975$1,1294,968$80.8 million
Georgetown County8,422$1,8444,748$114.6 million
Berkeley County7,185$770619$8.8 million
Dorchester County3,036$760779$16.9 million
Richland County2,158$9501,360$60.5 million
Jasper County1,970$736113$2.6 million
Colleton County1,911$1,357766$7.2 million
Lexington County1,369$830693$14.2 million
Greenville County1,079$968857$14.7 million
Sumter County563$566292$7.7 million
Aiken County537$75442$211 thousand

Common questions

How much does flood insurance cost in South Carolina?

The average NFIP flood insurance policy in South Carolina costs about $1,114 a year. Your own premium depends on your building's flood risk, elevation and the coverage you choose.

How many homes have flood insurance in South Carolina?

There are about 190,498 National Flood Insurance Program policies in force in South Carolina, according to FEMA's latest policy data. Private flood policies are not included.

How often does South Carolina flood?

Since 1978, NFIP policyholders in South Carolina have filed 49,622 flood claims, with $1.0 billion paid out. 8,344 of those claims were in the last 10 years.

Does homeowners insurance cover flooding?

No. Standard homeowners and renters insurance policies exclude flood damage. You need a separate flood policy from the NFIP or a private insurer.

How long until a new flood policy starts?

NFIP policies usually have a 30-day waiting period, so buying when a storm is already forecast is normally too late. Exceptions apply, for example when a lender requires the policy at closing.

How to get flood insurance

Most flood policies are sold through the National Flood Insurance Program by regular insurance agents. Ask the agent who handles your home or car insurance, or find one through FloodSmart.gov, FEMA's official flood insurance site. Private flood insurers also sell policies in many areas and are worth comparing.