Photo: Dr. Blazer · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Cayce as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Cayce gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns, #107 of 169 in South Carolina. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (62%), then hurricanes (14%). Flood insurance has paid 35 claims here since 1986.
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 Cayce’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Cayce 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
Hurricanes
Earthquakes
Tornadoes
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 Cayce’s grade
River and rain flooding is 62% of the building damage FEMA expects in Cayce, and Cayce’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 57% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 2%, at a rate in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts.
C+ #107 of 169 in South Carolina; higher expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Cayce’s residents live in 10 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical South Carolina town has lower expected damage than 55% of U.S. towns; within the state, Cayce has more expected damage per building than 63% of South Carolina towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $6.2M a year in losses across Cayce: $4.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Cayce flood? Sometimes: 35 flood claims since 1986
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Cayce, from FEMA’s records: 4.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 60% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The October severe storms15 claims · $245K
- Hurricane Helene2 claims · $68K
- Hurricane Ian1 claim · $2K
Cayce is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 9) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Lexington County.7 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Cayce
Disasters that paid out in Cayce itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Cayce), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Hurricane Helene617 households applied for aid$279K aid approved$534K to the City of Cayce for repairs2 flood claims paid for it, $68K
- 2017Hurricane Irma$6K to the City of Cayce for repairs
- 2015Severe Storms and Flooding377 households applied for aid$264K aid approved$1.2M to the City of Cayce for repairs18 flood claims paid that year
- 2014Severe Winter Storm$24K to the City of Cayce for repairs
- 2005Hurricane Katrina Evacuation$2K to the City of Cayce for repairs
- 2004Severe Ice Storm$46K to the City of Cayce for repairs
Show all 7
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$5K to the City of Cayce for repairs
Its 2 counties have had 18 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often hurricanes and tropical storms, then winter storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Cayce after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Cayce archive →Cayce and its neighbors
Cayce is 6th of the 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arthurtown | B+less damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Columbia | Bless damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 472 |
| Pine Ridge | Bless damage than 59% | river and rain flooding | — |
| West Columbia | B−less damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
| Springdale | B−more damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
| Cayce | C+more damage than 59% | river and rain flooding | 35 |
| Olympia | — | 935 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
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 Cayce 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.
- The season runs June through November and peaks from mid-August to mid-October.
- Bring in porch furniture and anything the wind can throw.
- Fill the gas tank and charge phones before the storm arrives.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- Pick your spot now: the lowest floor, an inside room, no windows.
- A watch means be ready; a warning means take cover now.
- Keep shoes and a flashlight by the bed.
- 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.
- Cayce residents get 05% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Cayce
Is Cayce at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Cayce has higher expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #107 of 169 in South Carolina. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (62%) and hurricanes (14%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Cayce flood?
Flood insurance has paid 35 claims in Cayce since 1986, $893K in all, or 4.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 60% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 3 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from October severe storms (15).
Is Cayce 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 Lexington County, 67% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Cayce?
Cayce is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 9), which takes 05% off federal flood insurance policies for its flood-proofing work. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Cayce?
By FEMA money that reached Cayce, Severe Storms and Flooding (2015): 377 households applied for aid, $264K approved, and $1.2M to the City of Cayce for repairs. By flood claims, October severe storms: 15 paid, $245K.
Is Cayce at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (62%), and Cayce’s rate for it is higher than 57% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Cayce.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Cayce’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.