riskbycounty
FEMA NRI 1.19.0Updated Nov 2023 · Coverage 2014–2023Methodology

Kershaw County Disaster Risk

Kershaw County, South Carolina

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Low

National Percentile

67th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#31

of 46 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

64th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 64% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 70% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 73% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Moderate

Higher than 82% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Moderate

Higher than 86% of US counties

Risk Overview

About Natural Disaster Risk in Kershaw County, South Carolina

Kershaw County scores below national average

Kershaw County's composite risk score of 66.67 places it below the national average with a Relatively Low rating. Your county faces fewer simultaneous disaster threats than most U.S. counties.

Below average within South Carolina

Kershaw County scores 4.08 points below South Carolina's average of 70.75, ranking it in the lower-risk tier of state counties. Among 46 South Carolina counties, Kershaw maintains a safety advantage.

Less risky than Lancaster, similar to Laurens

Lancaster County (79.42) and Laurens County (76.21) both exceed Kershaw's risk profile, while Sumter County (measured separately) presents comparable exposure. Kershaw's central location buffers against coastal hurricane surge.

Tornadoes and hurricanes require attention

Tornado risk (72.90) and hurricane risk (86.07) represent Kershaw's primary concerns, while flood risk (64.41) remains moderate. Earthquake risk (82.28) rounds out exposure but poses lower practical threat to most properties.

Ensure tornado and wind protection

Review your homeowners policy's wind coverage and confirm it includes severe storm protection. If you live in a flood-prone area, verify NFIP or private flood insurance is in place.

Source: FEMA National Risk Index · Narrative reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

Preparedness Guide

What to Prepare for in Kershaw County

Top Hazards by Exposure

  1. #1
    HurricanePrepare
    86th percentile
  2. #2
    EarthquakePrepare
    82th percentile
  3. #3
    TornadoPrepare
    73th percentile

Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.19.0 · Percentiles are national (3,144 counties)

Local Resources

Risk Advisory: Kershaw County

Risk Verdict

Natural hazard pressure in Kershaw County is below the national midpoint, with a composite score at the 67th percentile. Proactive emergency planning and awareness of the specific hazards driving Kershaw County's score can meaningfully reduce household risk.

Hazard Breakdown

Hurricane risk is Kershaw County's dominant natural hazard, ranked at the 86th percentile nationally under FEMA's National Risk Index. Earthquake ranks second at the 82th percentile nationally. Additional tracked hazards include tornado (73th percentile), wildfire (70th percentile), flood (64th percentile).

Preparedness Context

Hurricane exposure at the 86th percentile nationally makes Kershaw County a county where pre-season preparedness — not storm-day preparation — determines outcomes. Kershaw County evacuation decisions under a watch or warning benefit from prior planning, not routes improvised under time pressure. Kershaw County's earthquake exposure at the 82th percentile nationally adds a hazard layer that can persist or intensify after hurricane-force winds have passed, particularly in low-lying inland areas. Kershaw County residents benefit from registering with the county's special-needs evacuation registry if household members have mobility limitations, require electricity-dependent medical equipment, or cannot self-evacuate — registration in advance of storm season is required.

Regional Context

Kershaw County's risk score is broadly comparable to the South Carolina county average, with a 4.1-point gap that places the county near the center of the state's hazard distribution.

Is your household prepared for Kershaw County's hazards?

Review FEMA's county-specific preparedness checklists and emergency planning guides.

FEMA Ready Guide →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Kershaw County, SC?
Kershaw County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Low, placing it in the 67th 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 Kershaw County?
Kershaw County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: hurricane (86th percentile), earthquake (82th percentile), tornado (73th percentile), wildfire (70th percentile), flooding (64th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is hurricane at the 86th 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 Kershaw County risk compare to the South Carolina average?
Kershaw County's composite risk percentile is 67th, compared to the South Carolina state average of 71th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Kershaw County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in South Carolina.
Is Kershaw County at risk for hurricane?
Yes, Kershaw County's hurricane risk is at the 86th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Kershaw County is at the 64th 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 Kershaw County a safe place to live?
Kershaw County's composite risk score of 67th 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 hurricane at the 86th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Hampton County

South Carolina

-1.9

Relatively Low

65th percentile

Cherokee County

South Carolina

+3.0

Relatively Low

70th percentile

Newberry County

South Carolina

-4.7

Relatively Low

62th percentile

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Evan Brooks, 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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