riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

McCormick County Disaster Risk

McCormick County, South Carolina

FEMA Risk Rating

Very Low

National Percentile

10th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#46

of 46 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

17th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Very Low

Higher than 17% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Very Low

Higher than 35% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Very Low

Higher than 40% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 51% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 62% of US counties

Risk Advisory: McCormick County

Risk Verdict

McCormick County has a very low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 10th percentile nationally. This county is among the safer counties in the United States from a natural disaster perspective, though no area is entirely risk-free.

Hazard Breakdown

Hurricane risk is the dominant hazard for McCormick County, scoring in the 62th percentile nationally. It is followed by earthquake risk at the 51th percentile. Additional hazards include tornado (40th), wildfire (35th), flood (17th).

Preparedness Context

With hurricane risk as the top concern, McCormick County residents should know your evacuation route, stockpile supplies for at least 72 hours, and review your homeowners and flood insurance policies annually. Secondary risks such as earthquake 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

McCormick County is notably safer than the average county in South Carolina. Its composite risk score is 61.2 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 McCormick County, SC?
McCormick County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Very Low, placing it in the 10th 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 McCormick County?
McCormick County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: hurricane (62th percentile), earthquake (51th percentile), tornado (40th percentile), wildfire (35th percentile), flooding (17th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is hurricane at the 62th 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 McCormick County risk compare to the South Carolina average?
McCormick County's composite risk percentile is 10th, compared to the South Carolina state average of 71th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means McCormick County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in South Carolina.
Is McCormick County at risk for hurricane?
Yes, McCormick County's hurricane risk is at the 62th percentile nationally. This is above the national median. For flooding specifically, McCormick County is at the 17th 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 McCormick County a safe place to live?
McCormick County's composite risk score of 10th 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 62th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Edgefield County

South Carolina

+12.4

Very Low

22th percentile

Calhoun County

South Carolina

+13.1

Very Low

23th percentile

Allendale County

South Carolina

+25.9

Very Low

35th 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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