Calhoun County

South Carolina — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment

Very Low

Composite Risk Score

22.6

National percentile: 23th

Calhoun County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 22.6, 23th national percentile), driven primarily by hurricane and earthquake exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $6M.

Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025

Expected Annual Loss $6M Annualized county-level EAL
Social Vulnerability High Population sensitivity
Community Resilience Low Capacity to recover
Population 14K Latest estimate

Top Hazards

Hurricane
Low $2M/yr
Earthquake
Low $728K/yr
Drought
Low $217K/yr

All 18 Hazard Risks

Hurricane Low 0.22 / yr $2M
Earthquake Low 0.00 / yr $728K
Drought Low 14.07 / yr $217K
Ice Storm Low 1.24 / yr $97K
Wildfire Very Low 0.00 / yr $40K
Strong Wind Low 5.68 / yr $340K
Heat Wave Low 4.84 / yr $192K
Tornado Low 0.29 / yr $599K
Landslide Very Low 0.16 / yr $311
Hail Very Low 3.80 / yr $84K
Lightning Low 61.36 / yr $72K
Cold Wave Very Low 0.21 / yr $207K
Riverine Flood Very Low 0.25 / yr $2M
Winter Weather Very Low 1.47 / yr $10K
Avalanche Very Low 0.00 / yr $0
Coastal Flood 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 Calhoun County?

Calhoun County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 22.6 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 23th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.

What are the top natural hazards in Calhoun County?

The three highest-rated hazards are Hurricane (Low, $2M EAL), Earthquake (Low, $728K EAL), Drought (Low, $217K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.

How does Calhoun County compare to other South Carolina counties?

Calhoun County ranks #44 of 46 South Carolina counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low 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. Calhoun County's $6M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.