Beaufort County
South Carolina — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
HighComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 97th
Beaufort County faces high composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 97.1, 97th national percentile), driven primarily by hurricane and lightning exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $256M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Hurricane | Very High | 0.34 / yr | $201M |
| Lightning | High | 63.39 / yr | $2M |
| Coastal Flood | High | 3.68 / yr | $10M |
| Earthquake | Medium | 0.00 / yr | $10M |
| Wildfire | Medium | 0.00 / yr | $1M |
| Ice Storm | High | 0.64 / yr | $747K |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 10.23 / yr | $2M |
| Strong Wind | High | 1.56 / yr | $2M |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.34 / yr | $4M |
| Riverine Flood | Medium | 0.93 / yr | $20M |
| Cold Wave | Medium | 0.63 / yr | $2M |
| Winter Weather | Medium | 0.84 / yr | $124K |
| Hail | Low | 2.25 / yr | $507K |
| Drought | Low | 21.68 / yr | $87K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.10 / yr | $202 |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Beaufort County?
Beaufort County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 97.1 out of 100, placing it in the High category and the 97th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Beaufort County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Hurricane (Very High, $201M EAL), Lightning (High, $2M EAL), Coastal Flood (High, $10M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Beaufort County compare to other South Carolina counties?
Beaufort County ranks #3 of 46 South Carolina counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a high rating.
What does Expected Annual Loss (EAL) mean?
EAL is FEMA's estimate of average annual dollar losses from natural hazards, calculated from historical event data and exposure models. Beaufort County's $256M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.