riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Abbeville County Disaster Risk

Abbeville County, South Carolina

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Low

National Percentile

45th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#38

of 46 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

38th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Very Low

Higher than 38% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Very Low

Higher than 40% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 66% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 74% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 64% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Abbeville County

Risk Verdict

Abbeville County shows a relatively low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 45th percentile nationally. The county faces moderate hazard exposure relative to other U.S. counties. Standard emergency preparedness is recommended, with attention to the specific hazards that dominate locally.

Hazard Breakdown

Earthquake risk is the dominant hazard for Abbeville County, scoring in the 74th percentile nationally. It is followed by tornado risk at the 66th percentile. Additional hazards include hurricane (64th), wildfire (40th), flood (38th).

Preparedness Context

With earthquake risk as the top concern, Abbeville County residents should secure heavy furniture and appliances, know how to shut off utilities, and keep emergency supplies accessible. Secondary risks such as tornado also warrant attention in household and community preparedness planning. FEMA recommends all households maintain at least 72 hours of food, water, and medication supplies regardless of specific hazard exposure.

Regional Context

Abbeville County is notably safer than the average county in South Carolina. Its composite risk score is 25.4 points lower than the state average, indicating below-average exposure to natural hazards relative to other counties in the state.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Abbeville County, SC?
Abbeville County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Low, placing it in the 45th percentile nationally out of 3,144 counties. This composite score reflects the county's overall exposure to natural hazards including floods, wildfires, tornadoes, earthquakes, and hurricanes, weighted by expected annual loss and social vulnerability.
What types of natural hazards affect Abbeville County?
Abbeville County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: earthquake (74th percentile), tornado (66th percentile), hurricane (64th percentile), wildfire (40th percentile), flooding (38th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is earthquake at the 74th percentile nationally. These scores are derived from FEMA's National Risk Index, which analyzes expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience for each hazard type.
How does Abbeville County risk compare to the South Carolina average?
Abbeville County's composite risk percentile is 45th, compared to the South Carolina state average of 71th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Abbeville County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in South Carolina.
Is Abbeville County at risk for earthquake?
Yes, Abbeville County's earthquake risk is at the 74th percentile nationally. This is above the national median. For flooding specifically, Abbeville County is at the 38th percentile.
How is natural disaster risk measured?
FEMA's National Risk Index (NRI) calculates risk scores for 18 natural hazard types across all U.S. counties and census tracts. The composite score combines Expected Annual Loss (estimated dollar losses from each hazard), Social Vulnerability (demographic factors affecting disaster impact), and Community Resilience (ability to recover). Percentile scores rank each county against all 3,144 U.S. counties, and risk ratings range from Very Low to Very High.
Is Abbeville County a safe place to live?
Abbeville County's composite risk score of 45th percentile is below the South Carolina state average of 71th percentile, indicating relatively lower exposure to natural hazards. However, no county is completely risk-free. The primary hazard type is earthquake at the 74th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Barnwell County

South Carolina

+0.5

Relatively Low

46th percentile

Bamberg County

South Carolina

+1.1

Relatively Low

46th percentile

Chester County

South Carolina

-2.2

Relatively Low

43th percentile

By Logan Johnson, Founder & Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Logan Johnson, Founder & Data Editor

Data Source

Risk data sourced from the FEMA National Risk Index (NRI). Risk scores are relative rankings (0–100) across all US counties — not absolute risk measures. Higher scores indicate higher relative risk compared to other counties.

Disclaimer: This data is informational only. It is not financial, insurance, or legal advice. Always consult a qualified professional before making insurance or real estate decisions.

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