Home › South Carolina › Jasper County

Jasper County, South Carolina

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

Relatively Low overall risk
23rd of 46highest risk in South Carolina
$29Mexpected losses a year
22federal declarations
1 in 6homes with flood insurance
Photo: CC0

Jasper County, South Carolina has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 79% of US counties. It ranks 23rd of 46 counties in South Carolina. The costliest hazards here are hurricanes, inland flooding and earthquakes. FEMA estimates about $29 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,016 per resident. Since 1977 it has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (8 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). About 1 in 6 homes here carry federal flood insurance (1,831 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $2.6 million on 113 claims here, including $1.3 million for floods in 2016.

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

Top risks in Jasper County

$21.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 3 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.
$3 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.
$1.6 million 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
HurricaneHigh96.2
$22M
Inland floodingVery Low34.8
$3M
EarthquakeLow82.7
$2M
Heat waveLow71.5
$715K
TornadoLow35.8
$517K
Cold waveLow30.9
$322K
Coastal floodingLow59.0
$301K
WildfireLow76.7
$223K
Strong windLow30.7
$217K
LightningLow53.8
$197K
HailVery Low32.3
$96K
DroughtLow47.0
$87K
Ice stormLow31.5
$26K
Winter weatherVery Low20.3
$13K
LandslideVery Low6.9
$10

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 relatively 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 Jasper County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Hurricane15
Tropical Storm3
Drought1
Severe Ice Storm1
Severe Storm1
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
Sep 30, 2019Hurricane DorianMajor disaster
Sep 1, 2019Hurricane DorianEmergency
Show all 22
Sep 16, 2018Hurricane FlorenceMajor disaster
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
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 1965

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 498 storm reports in Jasper County since 1965, with 0 deaths and 5 injuries and about $995,000 in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF1 tornado on June 11, 2012 near Switzerland.

10tornadoes
50hail reports, largest 1.75 inches
413damaging thunderstorm winds
21floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 11, 2012EF1Switzerland0 / 0
Apr 9, 1998F1Hardeeville0 / 0
May 19, 1965F1–0 / 0
May 3, 1984F1–0 / 0
Sep 7, 2004F1Gillisonville0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 11, 2012TornadoSwitzerland$400K
Aug 6, 2024Flash FloodGillisonville$100K
Apr 9, 1998TornadoHardeeville$50K
Aug 30, 1997Thunderstorm WindHardeeville$40K
May 19, 1965Tornado–$25K
Jun 11, 2012Thunderstorm WindSwitzerland$25K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 24, 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 1852, 20 hurricanes and 57 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Jasper County, 28 of them since 1950. The strongest was Hurricane Gracie (1959), with top winds near 130 mph about 60 miles away.

20hurricanes
4major hurricanes (Category 3+)
57tropical storms
2024most recent: Debby

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 29, 1959GracieCategory 4, 130 mph60 mi
Oct 13, 1893UnnamedCategory 3, 120 mph63 mi
Aug 28, 1893UnnamedCategory 3, 115 mph63 mi
Sep 8, 1854UnnamedCategory 3, 115 mph63 mi
Oct 15, 1947UnnamedCategory 2, 105 mph59 mi
Aug 25, 1885UnnamedCategory 2, 105 mph62 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 6, 2024DebbyTropical storm, 50 mph63 mi
Aug 30, 2023IdaliaTropical storm, 65 mph46 mi
Jul 1, 2022ColinTropical storm, 40 mph31 mi
Jul 8, 2021ElsaTropical storm, 50 mph63 mi
Jun 28, 2021DannyTropical storm, 45 mph63 mi
Oct 8, 2016MatthewCategory 2, 100 mph62 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 Jasper County

Check your address flood zone ›
17.8%of homes have federal flood insurance (1,831 policies)
60.4%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$2.6 millionpaid on 113 flood claims since 1978
2016costliest year, with $1.3 million 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 Jasper County

$325,500median home value (South Carolina $259,000, US $332,700)
2003median year homes were built (South Carolina 1992, US 1980)
18%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
25.5%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; 14,758 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
Chatham County, GAHigh17
Beaufort CountyHigh22
Effingham County, GALow15
Hampton CountyLow23

Common questions about Jasper County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Jasper County?

Hurricane has the highest expected yearly losses in Jasper County, about $21.5 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $3 million.

How many federal disasters has Jasper County had?

Jasper County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1977, including 8 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is Jasper County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 23rd 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 Jasper County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 6 homes in Jasper 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 Jasper County had?

NOAA records list 10 tornadoes in Jasper County since 1950. The strongest was an EF1 tornado on June 11, 2012 near Switzerland. The weather service has also logged 50 hail reports and 21 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Jasper County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 20 hurricanes and 57 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Jasper County, including 4 major hurricanes (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.