Home › South Carolina › Hampton County

Hampton County, South Carolina

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

Relatively Low overall risk
32nd of 46highest risk in South Carolina
$15Mexpected losses a year
23federal declarations
1 in 125homes with flood insurance
Photo: CC0

Hampton County, South Carolina has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 65% of US counties. It ranks 32nd of 46 counties in South Carolina. The costliest hazards here are hurricanes, inland flooding and earthquakes. FEMA estimates about $15 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $816 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). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (78 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $249,000 on 20 claims here.

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

Top risks in Hampton County

Hurricane

Moderate
$8.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 4 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.
$2.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 3 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.
$1.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 300 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
HurricaneModerate93.0
$8M
Inland floodingVery Low34.7
$3M
EarthquakeLow82.9
$1M
Heat waveLow75.6
$739K
TornadoLow42.9
$600K
Strong windModerate68.1
$568K
Cold waveLow33.8
$311K
DroughtModerate67.5
$279K
WildfireLow71.4
$120K
Ice stormModerate65.5
$107K
LightningLow39.9
$99K
HailVery Low33.4
$85K
Winter weatherVery Low14.0
$7K
Coastal floodingVery Low24.2
$841
LandslideVery Low8.8
$13

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 relatively low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Hurricane13
Severe Storm3
Tropical Storm3
Severe Ice Storm2
Drought1
Winter Storm1

Most recent

Jan 23, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
Sep 29, 2024Hurricane HeleneMajor disaster
Sep 29, 2024Tropical Storm DebbyMajor disaster
Sep 26, 2024Hurricane HeleneEmergency
Aug 5, 2024Hurricane DebbyEmergency
Aug 31, 2023Hurricane IdaliaEmergency
Nov 21, 2022Hurricane IanMajor disaster
Sep 29, 2022Hurricane IanEmergency
May 1, 2020Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Mar 17, 2020Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 23
Sep 1, 2019Hurricane DorianEmergency
Sep 10, 2018Hurricane FlorenceEmergency
Oct 16, 2017Hurricane IrmaMajor disaster
Sep 7, 2017Hurricane IrmaEmergency
Oct 11, 2016Hurricane MatthewMajor disaster
Oct 6, 2016Hurricane MatthewEmergency
Oct 3, 2015Severe Storms and FloodingEmergency
Mar 12, 2014Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Feb 12, 2014Severe Winter StormEmergency
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
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 1956

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 407 storm reports in Hampton County since 1956, with 7 deaths and 93 injuries and about $1 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF4 tornado on April 13, 2020 near Estill Muni Arpt.

17tornadoes
50hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
320damaging thunderstorm winds
18floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 13, 2020EF4Estill Muni Arpt60 / 5
Mar 8, 1980F1–6 / 0
May 3, 1956F1–0 / 0
Nov 3, 1982F1–0 / 0
Aug 7, 1981F1–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Nov 30, 1974Tornado–$250K
Mar 8, 1980Tornado–$250K
Aug 6, 2024Flash FloodMiley$100K
Aug 9, 2011Thunderstorm WindCummings$30K
Jul 1, 2012Thunderstorm WindHampton$30K
Aug 30, 2023Flash FloodHampton$30K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 18, 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, 17 hurricanes and 48 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Hampton County, 24 of them since 1950. The strongest was Hurricane Gracie (1959), with top winds near 130 mph about 57 miles away.

17hurricanes
1major hurricanes (Category 3+)
48tropical storms
2024most recent: Debby

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 29, 1959GracieCategory 4, 130 mph57 mi
Aug 28, 1893UnnamedCategory 2, 110 mph61 mi
Aug 25, 1885UnnamedCategory 2, 105 mph63 mi
Sep 8, 1854UnnamedCategory 2, 105 mph64 mi
Oct 8, 2016MatthewCategory 2, 100 mph64 mi
Aug 31, 1952AbleCategory 2, 100 mph59 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 6, 2024DebbyTropical storm, 45 mph64 mi
Aug 30, 2023IdaliaTropical storm, 65 mph57 mi
Jul 1, 2022ColinTropical storm, 40 mph46 mi
Jul 8, 2021ElsaTropical storm, 50 mph63 mi
Jun 28, 2021DannyTropical storm, 40 mph60 mi
Sep 16, 2018FlorenceTropical storm, 50 mph65 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 Hampton County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.8%of homes have federal flood insurance (78 policies)
18.6%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$248,712paid on 20 flood claims since 1978
2023costliest year, with $180,590 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 Hampton County

$112,000median home value (South Carolina $259,000, US $332,700)
1984median year homes were built (South Carolina 1992, US 1980)
44%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
34.7%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; 8,645 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
Beaufort CountyHigh22
Effingham County, GALow15
Colleton CountyModerate26
Jasper CountyLow22
Screven County, GALow19
Bamberg CountyLow26
Allendale CountyVery Low23

Common questions about Hampton County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Hampton County?

Hurricane has the highest expected yearly losses in Hampton County, about $8.3 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $2.5 million.

How many federal disasters has Hampton County had?

Hampton 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 Hampton County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 32nd 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 Hampton County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 125 homes in Hampton 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 Hampton County had?

NOAA records list 17 tornadoes in Hampton County since 1950. The strongest was an EF4 tornado on April 13, 2020 near Estill Muni Arpt. The weather service has also logged 50 hail reports and 18 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Hampton County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 17 hurricanes and 48 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Hampton 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.