On FEMA’s figures, Garden City faces more hazard damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns, mostly from hurricanes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Garden City gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns, #139 of 169 in South Carolina. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (75%). Flood insurance has paid 1,532 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 Garden City’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Garden City faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
Hurricanes
River and rain flooding
Coastal 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 Garden City’s grade
Hurricanes are 75% of the building damage FEMA expects in Garden City, and Garden City’s rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 8%, at a rate in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
D #139 of 169 in South Carolina; higher expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Garden City’s residents live in 4 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, Garden City has more expected damage per building than 82% of South Carolina towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $11.4M a year in losses across Garden City: $10.0M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Garden City flood? Yes: 1,532 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Garden City, from FEMA’s records: 145.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 97% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Hugo639 claims · $38.6M
- Hurricane Matthew171 claims · $7.2M
- Hurricane Ian140 claims · $7.6M
Garden City isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Horry County.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Garden City
Disasters that paid out in Garden City itself (aid to households or repair grants to Garden City), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2022Hurricane Ian3 households applied for aid$7K aid approved140 flood claims paid for it, $7.6M
- 2016Hurricane Matthew33 households applied for aid$36K aid approved171 flood claims paid for it, $7.2M
Horry County has had 19 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.
Also 4 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Horry County, 2001–2025.
Old photos of Garden City after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Garden City archive →Garden City and its neighbors
Garden City is 2nd of the 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surfside Beach | Dmore damage than 94% | hurricanes | 567 |
| Garden City | Dmore damage than 94% | hurricanes | 1,532 |
| Murrells Inlet | D−more damage than 98% | hurricanes | 3 |
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 Garden City faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- 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.
- 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.
- Know your evacuation zone and the way off the coast.
- Storm surge comes fast: leave when you’re told, not when the water arrives.
- Move cars to high ground before king tides and nor’easters.
- 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 Garden City
Is Garden City at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Garden City has higher expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #139 of 169 in South Carolina. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (75%) and river and rain flooding (10%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Garden City flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1,532 claims in Garden City since 1979, $64.2M in all, or 145.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 97% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Hurricane Hugo (639).
Is Garden City 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 Horry County, 14.6% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Garden City?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Garden City’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 Garden City?
By FEMA money that reached Garden City, Hurricane Matthew (2016): 33 households applied for aid, $36K approved. By flood claims, Hurricane Hugo: 639 paid, $38.6M.
Is Garden City at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (75%), and Garden City’s rate for it is in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Garden City.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Garden City’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.