Horry County
South Carolina — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
HighComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 98th
Horry County faces high composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 98.2, 98th national percentile), driven primarily by hurricane and tornado exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $290M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Hurricane | Very High | 0.30 / yr | $200M |
| Tornado | High | 0.61 / yr | $14M |
| Earthquake | Medium | 0.00 / yr | $15M |
| Lightning | High | 58.88 / yr | $2M |
| Winter Weather | High | 1.32 / yr | $661K |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 9.21 / yr | $5M |
| Ice Storm | High | 0.63 / yr | $1M |
| Riverine Flood | Medium | 1.96 / yr | $40M |
| Wildfire | Medium | 0.00 / yr | $1M |
| Cold Wave | Medium | 0.47 / yr | $5M |
| Coastal Flood | High | 3.57 / yr | $4M |
| Strong Wind | High | 2.83 / yr | $1M |
| Drought | Low | 10.34 / yr | $110K |
| Hail | Low | 2.69 / yr | $176K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.17 / yr | $563 |
| 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 Horry County?
Horry County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 98.2 out of 100, placing it in the High category and the 98th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Horry County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Hurricane (Very High, $200M EAL), Tornado (High, $14M EAL), Earthquake (Medium, $15M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Horry County compare to other South Carolina counties?
Horry County ranks #2 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. Horry County's $290M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.