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

Orangeburg County Disaster Risk

Orangeburg County, South Carolina

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Moderate

National Percentile

88th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#13

of 46 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

76th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 76% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 80% 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 High

Higher than 96% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Relatively High

Higher than 95% of US counties

Risk Overview

About Natural Disaster Risk in Orangeburg County, South Carolina

Orangeburg faces significant national disaster risk

Orangeburg County scores 87.72 on the composite risk scale, placing it in the relatively moderate risk category and well above South Carolina's average of 70.75. This high standing reflects particularly acute exposure to earthquakes and hurricanes, with scores of 95.61 and 95.33 respectively.

Orangeburg ranks 3rd riskiest in SC

Orangeburg County ranks third-highest for overall disaster risk among South Carolina's 46 counties, behind only Richland and Marion counties. The county's exceptionally high earthquake and hurricane scores drive this elevated ranking.

Orangeburg is riskier than most regional peers

Orangeburg's 87.72 composite score significantly exceeds nearby Newberry County (61.99) and most state peers except Richland (93.10) and Marion (80.69). The county's unique combination of high earthquake (95.61) and hurricane (95.33) risks distinguishes it regionally.

Earthquakes and hurricanes are extreme threats

Orangeburg faces exceptional earthquake risk (95.61) and hurricane risk (95.33)—among the highest in the state for both hazards. Wildfire risk (79.93) compounds the threat landscape, creating a particularly challenging disaster profile.

Comprehensive, specialized insurance is vital

Orangeburg residents need robust homeowner's insurance covering earthquake and wind damage—both at extreme risk levels in this county. Additional flood insurance and disaster preparedness plans are essential to protect against the county's multi-hazard exposure.

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

Preparedness Guide

What to Prepare for in Orangeburg County

Top Hazards by Exposure

  1. #1
    EarthquakePrepare
    96th percentile
  2. #2
    HurricanePrepare
    95th percentile
  3. #3
    WildfirePrepare
    80th percentile

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

Local Resources

Risk Advisory: Orangeburg County

Risk Verdict

Orangeburg County's overall risk score at the 88th percentile nationally signals meaningful exposure to multiple natural hazard types. Comprehensive household preparedness — including reviewing insurance, maintaining emergency supplies, and knowing evacuation routes — is strongly recommended.

Hazard Breakdown

Earthquake risk is Orangeburg County's dominant natural hazard, ranked at the 96th percentile nationally under FEMA's National Risk Index. Hurricane ranks second at the 95th percentile nationally. Additional tracked hazards include wildfire (80th percentile), flood (76th percentile), tornado (66th percentile).

Preparedness Context

Orangeburg County ranks at the 96th percentile nationally for earthquake risk. Unlike most natural hazards, earthquakes provide no advance warning; preparedness here means structural adjustments and a practiced response, not alert monitoring. Alongside earthquake exposure, Orangeburg County's hurricane risk at the 95th percentile nationally reinforces the value of maintaining a household emergency supply cache usable for multiple hazard scenarios. For earthquake preparedness, Orangeburg County's county emergency management office often maintains a list of community water supply points, Red Cross shelter locations, and post-quake assistance programs — useful resources to identify before an event occurs.

Regional Context

Compared to other South Carolina counties, Orangeburg County runs 17.0 composite risk points higher than the state mean — reflecting above-average hazard concentration in this area.

Is your household prepared for Orangeburg 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 Orangeburg County, SC?
Orangeburg County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Moderate, placing it in the 88th 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 Orangeburg County?
Orangeburg County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: earthquake (96th percentile), hurricane (95th percentile), wildfire (80th percentile), flooding (76th percentile), tornado (66th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is earthquake at the 96th 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 Orangeburg County risk compare to the South Carolina average?
Orangeburg County's composite risk percentile is 88th, compared to the South Carolina state average of 71th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Orangeburg County faces higher natural disaster risk than the typical county in South Carolina.
Is Orangeburg County at risk for earthquake?
Yes, Orangeburg County's earthquake risk is at the 96th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Orangeburg County is at the 76th 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.
Why is Orangeburg County higher risk than average?
Orangeburg County's composite risk score of 88th percentile is above the South Carolina state average of 71th percentile. This elevated risk is driven by earthquake exposure (96th percentile), along with hurricane and wildfire and flooding and tornado risk. Geographic location, terrain, climate patterns, and proximity to flood zones or fault lines all influence a county's risk profile.

Counties with Similar Risk

Anderson County

South Carolina

-0.5

Relatively Moderate

87th percentile

York County

South Carolina

+1.0

Relatively Moderate

89th percentile

Florence County

South Carolina

+1.8

Relatively Moderate

90th 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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