First Baptist Church · Photo: Nelson E. Baldwin, Photographer · Public domainFEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Charleston than in 60% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Charleston gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (91%). Flood insurance has paid 12 claims here since 1979.
Graded on FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value (NRI v1.20, December 2025), weighted by where residents live; flood claims are shown, not graded. How hazard risk is graded
What stands out about Charleston’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Charleston faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
River and rain flooding
Shares are of FEMA’s expected building damage, the measure the grade uses; ranks compare each hazard’s building-damage rate with all 85,154 U.S. census tracts. In FEMA’s terms, river and rain flooding is FEMA’s “Inland Flooding” (rivers and streams overflowing their banks, or rain overwhelming drainage). FEMA defines coastal flooding as high or rising tides and storm surge, so surge damage is counted there. Drought isn’t listed: FEMA counts its losses in crops only.
What’s behind Charleston’s grade
River and rain flooding is 91% of the building damage FEMA expects in Charleston, and Charleston’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 66% of U.S. census tracts. Landslides add 1%, at a rate in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
B lower expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Charleston’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $479K a year in losses across Charleston: $398K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Charleston flood? Sometimes: 12 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Charleston, from FEMA’s records: 20.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 84% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene4 claims · $439K
- The Torrential rain2 claims · $25K
- The March 2010 nor’easter1 claim · $1K
Charleston isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Montgomery County.6 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Charleston
Disasters that paid out in Charleston itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Charleston), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2017Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$15K to the Town of Charleston for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene1 households applied for aid$88K to the Town of Charleston for repairs4 flood claims paid for it, $439K
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding$9K to the Town of Charleston for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding$10K to the Town of Charleston for repairs
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding$6K to the Town of Charleston for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2002Snowstorms$10K to the Town of Charleston for repairs
Montgomery County has had 19 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then hurricanes and tropical storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees; the 2001 World Trade Center declarations.
Old photos of Charleston after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Charleston archive →Charleston and its neighbors
Charleston is 4th of the 7 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duanesburg | Aless damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Carlisle | B+less damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Florida | Bless damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Charleston | Bless damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 12 |
| Glen | C+more damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Root | C+more damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Esperance | Cmore damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 87 |
Hazard risk = FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade; the map is shaded by fifths of the same scale. Flood claims = paid federal flood insurance claims on record.
Get ready for what Charleston faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- Turn around at flooded roads: a foot of moving water can carry off a car.
- Flood insurance usually takes 30 days to start, so buy it before the forecast.
- Keep papers and medicines up high, in a grab-and-go bag.
- Look up the address on FEMA’s flood map.
- Ask the seller or landlord whether it has ever flooded, and what flood insurance costs there.
- Get a flood insurance quote early: policies usually start 30 days after you buy.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Charleston
Is Charleston at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Charleston has lower expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (91%). The figures are for the one census tract the town shares with its neighbors. This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Charleston flood?
Flood insurance has paid 12 claims in Charleston since 1979, $497K in all, or 20.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 84% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (4).
Is Charleston in a flood zone?
Flood zones are drawn street by street, so the answer depends on the address: look it up on FEMA’s flood map. In Montgomery County, 23% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.8% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Charleston?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Charleston’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Charleston?
By FEMA money that reached Charleston, Hurricane Irene (2011): 1 households applied for aid, $0 approved, and $88K to the Town of Charleston for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 4 paid, $439K.
Is Charleston at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (91%), and Charleston’s rate for it is higher than 66% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Charleston.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Charleston’s residents lived in the 2020 census; OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. Preparedness tips: Ready.gov. FEMA’s model is an average of expected damage, not a forecast. How hazard risk is graded.