Berkeley County
South Carolina — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
HighComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 95th
Berkeley County faces high composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 94.8, 95th national percentile), driven primarily by hurricane and earthquake exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $214M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Hurricane | Very High | 0.32 / yr | $116M |
| Earthquake | Medium | 0.01 / yr | $53M |
| Wildfire | Medium | 0.00 / yr | $2M |
| Lightning | High | 64.39 / yr | $1M |
| Ice Storm | High | 1.02 / yr | $941K |
| Riverine Flood | Medium | 1.64 / yr | $25M |
| Coastal Flood | Medium | 3.56 / yr | $3M |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.60 / yr | $5M |
| Cold Wave | Medium | 0.81 / yr | $4M |
| Winter Weather | Medium | 1.17 / yr | $219K |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 2.60 / yr | $1M |
| Heat Wave | Low | 9.74 / yr | $1M |
| Hail | Low | 2.75 / yr | $614K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.33 / yr | $2K |
| Drought | Very Low | 10.36 / yr | $7K |
| 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 Berkeley County?
Berkeley County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 94.8 out of 100, placing it in the High category and the 95th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Berkeley County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Hurricane (Very High, $116M EAL), Earthquake (Medium, $53M EAL), Wildfire (Medium, $2M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Berkeley County compare to other South Carolina counties?
Berkeley County ranks #4 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. Berkeley County's $214M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.