riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Newberry County Disaster Risk

Newberry County, South Carolina

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Low

National Percentile

62th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#33

of 46 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

63th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 63% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 54% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 81% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Moderate

Higher than 82% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 80% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Newberry County

Risk Verdict

Newberry County shows a relatively low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 62th 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 Newberry County, scoring in the 82th percentile nationally. It is followed by tornado risk at the 81th percentile. Additional hazards include hurricane (80th), flood (63th), wildfire (54th).

Preparedness Context

With earthquake risk as the top concern, Newberry 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

Newberry County is notably safer than the average county in South Carolina. Its composite risk score is 8.8 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 Newberry County, SC?
Newberry County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Low, placing it in the 62th 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 Newberry County?
Newberry County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: earthquake (82th percentile), tornado (81th percentile), hurricane (80th percentile), flooding (63th percentile), wildfire (54th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is earthquake at the 82th 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 Newberry County risk compare to the South Carolina average?
Newberry County's composite risk percentile is 62th, compared to the South Carolina state average of 71th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Newberry County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in South Carolina.
Is Newberry County at risk for earthquake?
Yes, Newberry County's earthquake risk is at the 82th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Newberry County is at the 63th 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 Newberry County a safe place to live?
Newberry County's composite risk score of 62th 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 82th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Hampton County

South Carolina

+2.8

Relatively Low

65th percentile

Union County

South Carolina

-3.8

Relatively Low

58th percentile

Marlboro County

South Carolina

-4.5

Relatively Low

57th 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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