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Allendale County, South Carolina

Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.

Very Low overall risk
43rd of 46highest risk in South Carolina
$7Mexpected losses a year
23federal declarations
1 in 1000homes with flood insurance
Photo: CC0

Allendale County, South Carolina has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 64% of US counties. It ranks 43rd of 46 counties in South Carolina. The costliest hazards here are hurricanes, inland flooding and earthquakes. FEMA estimates about $7.1 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $881 per resident. Since 1977 it has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (9 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). Only 5 homes here carry federal flood insurance.

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.

Top risks in Allendale County

Hurricane

Moderate
$3.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 5 years.
  • Know your evacuation zone and route before June 1.
  • Ask about roof age, shutters and the separate wind or hurricane deductible on your home policy.
$1.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 7 years.
  • Check the FEMA flood map for your address, and ask the seller or landlord about past flooding.
  • Price a flood policy now. Most new federal policies take 30 days to start.
$810,998 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 305 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
HurricaneModerate87.5
$3M
Inland floodingVery Low14.5
$1M
EarthquakeLow76.9
$811K
Heat waveLow73.6
$675K
TornadoLow42.0
$588K
Cold waveVery Low21.4
$158K
DroughtLow57.3
$148K
Strong windLow18.4
$100K
Ice stormLow51.8
$58K
HailVery Low19.3
$43K
LightningVery Low18.3
$39K
WildfireVery Low50.3
$31K
Winter weatherVery Low11.3
$6K
LandslideVery Low8.2
$11

Scores are percentiles: a score of 90 means higher risk than about 90% of US counties for that hazard. Hazards FEMA does not rate here are left out. Social vulnerability is very high and community resilience is very low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

Federal declarations for natural events that included Allendale County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Hurricane14
Severe Storm2
Severe Ice Storm2
Tropical Storm2
Drought1
Flood1

Most recent

Jan 23, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
Sep 29, 2024Hurricane HeleneMajor disaster
Sep 26, 2024Hurricane HeleneEmergency
Aug 5, 2024Hurricane DebbyEmergency
Aug 31, 2023Hurricane IdaliaEmergency
Nov 21, 2022Hurricane IanMajor disaster
Sep 29, 2022Hurricane IanEmergency
Sep 30, 2019Hurricane DorianMajor disaster
Sep 1, 2019Hurricane DorianEmergency
Sep 10, 2018Hurricane FlorenceEmergency
Show all 23
Oct 16, 2017Hurricane IrmaMajor disaster
Sep 7, 2017Hurricane IrmaEmergency
Oct 11, 2016Hurricane MatthewMajor disaster
Oct 6, 2016Hurricane MatthewEmergency
Oct 5, 2015Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 3, 2015Severe Storms and FloodingEmergency
Mar 12, 2014Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Feb 12, 2014Severe Winter StormEmergency
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jan 31, 2000Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Sep 21, 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster DeclarationsMajor disaster
Sep 15, 1999Hurricane Floyd Emergency DeclarationsEmergency
Aug 4, 1977DroughtEmergency

South Carolina also had 12 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1965

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 260 storm reports in Allendale County since 1965, with 1 death and 8 injuries and about $5.3 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF3 tornado on April 5, 2022 near Allendale Oswald Arp.

20tornadoes
35hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
189damaging thunderstorm winds
12floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 5, 2022EF3Allendale Oswald Arp1 / 0
Sep 22, 2000F2Martin5 / 1
Mar 15, 2008EF2Averill1 / 0
Apr 10, 2009EF2Baldock0 / 0
Apr 15, 1999F2Ulmers0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Mar 15, 2008TornadoAverill$2M
Apr 10, 2009TornadoBaldock$1M
Apr 10, 2009TornadoAverill$1M
Sep 22, 2000TornadoMartin$290K
Apr 24, 1965Tornado–$250K
Apr 10, 2009Thunderstorm WindMillett$50K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 11, 2026. Tornado records start in 1950, hail and wind in 1955, and floods and other storm types in 1996, so older decades undercount. Damage is in dollars of the year it happened and is often an estimate. Winter storms, heat and hurricanes are logged by forecast zone, not county, so they are not counted here.

Hurricanes and tropical storms

Hurricane risk by county ›

Since 1851, 13 hurricanes and 39 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Allendale County, 19 of them since 1950. The strongest was Hurricane Gracie (1959), with top winds near 130 mph about 63 miles away.

13hurricanes
1major hurricanes (Category 3+)
39tropical storms
2023most recent: Idalia

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 29, 1959GracieCategory 4, 130 mph63 mi
Aug 28, 1893UnnamedCategory 2, 105 mph62 mi
Aug 31, 1952AbleCategory 2, 100 mph65 mi
Sep 29, 1896UnnamedCategory 2, 100 mph55 mi
Aug 28, 1911UnnamedCategory 1, 95 mph65 mi
Sep 27, 1894UnnamedCategory 1, 90 mph64 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 30, 2023IdaliaTropical storm, 65 mph64 mi
Jul 1, 2022ColinTropical storm, 40 mph64 mi
Jul 8, 2021ElsaTropical storm, 50 mph60 mi
Jun 28, 2021DannyTropical storm, 40 mph64 mi
Sep 16, 2018FlorenceTropical storm, 50 mph61 mi
Sep 2, 2016HermineTropical storm, 60 mph52 mi

Source: NOAA National Hurricane Center best-track records (HURDAT2), 1851 to 2025 for the Atlantic and 1949 to 2025 for the eastern Pacific. A storm counts if its track passed within 65 miles of the county's center while it was a tropical storm or hurricane. Strength is the storm's top sustained wind at that point, not the wind measured in the county. Older storms over the open sea were sometimes missed.

Flood insurance in Allendale County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (5 policies)
8.7%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$282,090paid on 6 flood claims since 1978
2023costliest year, with $203,176 paid

National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) records only; private flood policies are not included. Home counts as of Aug 3, 2026. Since 2021 NFIP prices each home separately under Risk Rating 2.0, so your price depends on the building, not the county. Ask an agent for a quote.

Homes in Allendale County

$76,200median home value (South Carolina $259,000, US $332,700)
1977median year homes were built (South Carolina 1992, US 1980)
55%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
22.8%of homes are mobile homes, which are the least safe in tornadoes and high winds

Older homes and mobile homes usually suffer more damage in storms, floods and earthquakes, and can cost more to insure. If you are buying, ask about roof age, foundation bolting and any retrofits. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 5-year estimates; 4,050 housing units.

Compare in South Carolina

All 46 ›
Largest countiesOverall riskTop hazard
Greenville CountyModerateInland flooding
Richland CountyModerateInland flooding
Charleston CountyHighHurricane
Horry CountyHighHurricane
Spartanburg CountyModerateInland flooding
Lexington CountyModerateInland flooding
York CountyModerateInland flooding
Berkeley CountyHighHurricane

Neighboring counties

CountyOverall riskDeclarations
Colleton CountyModerate26
Burke County, GAVery Low18
Barnwell CountyLow25
Hampton CountyLow23
Screven County, GALow19
Bamberg CountyLow26

Common questions about Allendale County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Allendale County?

Hurricane has the highest expected yearly losses in Allendale County, about $3.3 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $1.1 million.

How many federal disasters has Allendale County had?

Allendale County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1977, including 9 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is Allendale County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 43rd highest of 46 in South Carolina. A county rating covers the whole area. Risk at one address can be much higher or lower, so check the FEMA flood map and ask about the home's history.

Do I need flood insurance in Allendale County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 1000 homes in Allendale County has federal flood insurance. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.

How many tornadoes has Allendale County had?

NOAA records list 20 tornadoes in Allendale County since 1950. The strongest was an EF3 tornado on April 5, 2022 near Allendale Oswald Arp. The weather service has also logged 35 hail reports and 12 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Allendale County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 13 hurricanes and 39 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Allendale County, including 1 major hurricane (Category 3 or stronger). The strongest was Hurricane Gracie (1959), with winds near 130 mph.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025), OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, and NFIP policy and claims data. Hazard Compass is independent and not affiliated with FEMA. These figures describe the whole county, not a single property, and are not insurance or safety advice. Report a problem.