Photo: Evanoco · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Hartsville as in the typical U.S. town, led by river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Hartsville gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns, #78 of 169 in South Carolina. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (46%), then hurricanes (22%). Flood insurance has paid 8 claims here since 2015.
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 Hartsville 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 Hartsville’s grade
River and rain flooding is 46% of the building damage FEMA expects in Hartsville, and Hartsville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 77% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 22% (higher than 84% of U.S. census tracts).
B #78 of 169 in South Carolina; lower expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Hartsville’s residents live in 5 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, Hartsville has less expected damage per building than 54% of South Carolina towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.6M a year in losses across Hartsville: $1.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Hartsville flood? Rarely: 8 flood claims since 2015
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Hartsville, from FEMA’s records: 2.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 58% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Florence4 claims · $63K
- The October severe storms1 claim · $1K
- Hurricane Matthew1 claim · $189
Hartsville isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Darlington County.8 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Hartsville
Disasters that paid out in Hartsville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Hartsville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2023Hurricane Idalia$3K to the City of Hartsville for repairs
- 2022Hurricane Ian$8K to the City of Hartsville for repairs
- 2018Hurricane Florence224 households applied for aid$105K aid approved$74K to the City of Hartsville for repairs4 flood claims paid for it, $63K
- 2016Hurricane Matthew519 households applied for aid$154K aid approved$211K to the City of Hartsville for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $189
- 2015Severe Storms and Flooding664 households applied for aid$222K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
- 2004Tropical Storm Frances296 households applied for aid$288K aid approved
Show all 8
- 2000Severe Winter Storm$6K to the City of Hartsville for repairs
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$10K to the City of Hartsville for repairs
Darlington County has 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 Hartsville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Hartsville archive →Hartsville and its neighbors
Hartsville has the lowest expected damage per building of the 2 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hartsville | Bless damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | 8 |
| North Hartsville | B−more damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
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 Hartsville 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.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Hartsville
Is Hartsville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Hartsville has lower expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #78 of 169 in South Carolina. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (46%) and hurricanes (22%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Hartsville flood?
Flood insurance has paid 8 claims in Hartsville since 2015, $74K in all, or 2.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 58% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 3 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Florence (4).
Is Hartsville 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 Darlington County, 21% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Hartsville?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Hartsville’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 Hartsville?
By FEMA money that reached Hartsville, Hurricane Matthew (2016): 519 households applied for aid, $154K approved, and $211K to the City of Hartsville for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Florence: 4 paid, $63K.
Is Hartsville at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (46%), and Hartsville’s rate for it is lower than 77% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Hartsville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Hartsville’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.