Allendale County, South Carolina
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
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
- 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.
- 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.
- Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
- Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hurricane | 87.5 | $3M | ||
| Inland flooding | 14.5 | $1M | ||
| Earthquake | 76.9 | $811K | ||
| Heat wave | 73.6 | $675K | ||
| Tornado | 42.0 | $588K | ||
| Cold wave | 21.4 | $158K | ||
| Drought | 57.3 | $148K | ||
| Strong wind | 18.4 | $100K | ||
| Ice storm | 51.8 | $58K | ||
| Hail | 19.3 | $43K | ||
| Lightning | 18.3 | $39K | ||
| Wildfire | 50.3 | $31K | ||
| Winter weather | 11.3 | $6K | ||
| Landslide | 8.2 | $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
Most recent
Show all 23
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.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 5, 2022 | EF3 | Allendale Oswald Arp | 1 / 0 |
| Sep 22, 2000 | F2 | Martin | 5 / 1 |
| Mar 15, 2008 | EF2 | Averill | 1 / 0 |
| Apr 10, 2009 | EF2 | Baldock | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 15, 1999 | F2 | Ulmers | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 15, 2008 | Tornado | Averill | $2M |
| Apr 10, 2009 | Tornado | Baldock | $1M |
| Apr 10, 2009 | Tornado | Averill | $1M |
| Sep 22, 2000 | Tornado | Martin | $290K |
| Apr 24, 1965 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Apr 10, 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | Millett | $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.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 29, 1959 | Gracie | Category 4, 130 mph | 63 mi |
| Aug 28, 1893 | Unnamed | Category 2, 105 mph | 62 mi |
| Aug 31, 1952 | Able | Category 2, 100 mph | 65 mi |
| Sep 29, 1896 | Unnamed | Category 2, 100 mph | 55 mi |
| Aug 28, 1911 | Unnamed | Category 1, 95 mph | 65 mi |
| Sep 27, 1894 | Unnamed | Category 1, 90 mph | 64 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 30, 2023 | Idalia | Tropical storm, 65 mph | 64 mi |
| Jul 1, 2022 | Colin | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 64 mi |
| Jul 8, 2021 | Elsa | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 60 mi |
| Jun 28, 2021 | Danny | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 64 mi |
| Sep 16, 2018 | Florence | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 61 mi |
| Sep 2, 2016 | Hermine | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 52 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 ›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
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 counties | Overall risk | Top hazard |
|---|---|---|
| Greenville County | Inland flooding | |
| Richland County | Inland flooding | |
| Charleston County | Hurricane | |
| Horry County | Hurricane | |
| Spartanburg County | Inland flooding | |
| Lexington County | Inland flooding | |
| York County | Inland flooding | |
| Berkeley County | Hurricane |
Neighboring counties
| County | Overall risk | Declarations |
|---|---|---|
| Colleton County | 26 | |
| Burke County, GA | 18 | |
| Barnwell County | 25 | |
| Hampton County | 23 | |
| Screven County, GA | 19 | |
| Bamberg County | 26 |
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.