Photo: Locust member · CC BY 4.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Hilton Head Island than almost anywhere in the U.S., mostly from hurricanes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Hilton Head Island gets a D− for hazard risk: among the highest expected damage per building of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (85%). Flood insurance has paid 1,412 claims here since 1987.
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 Hilton Head Island’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Hilton Head Island 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
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 Hilton Head Island’s grade
Hurricanes are 85% of the building damage FEMA expects in Hilton Head Island, and Hilton Head Island’s rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 5%, at a rate in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
D− #168 of 169 in South Carolina; among the highest expected damage per building of U.S. towns (21,298).
Hilton Head Island’s residents live in 13 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, Hilton Head Island has more expected damage per building than 99% of South Carolina towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $76.1M a year in losses across Hilton Head Island: $71.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Hilton Head Island flood? Yes: 1,412 flood claims since 1987
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Hilton Head Island, from FEMA’s records: 46.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 92% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Matthew897 claims · $37.9M
- Hurricane Irma170 claims · $3.6M
- Hurricane Elsa5 claims · $137K
Hilton Head Island is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 5) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Beaufort County.9 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Hilton Head Island
Disasters that paid out in Hilton Head Island itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Hilton Head Island), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Hurricane Helene99 households applied for aid$90K aid approved$102K to the Town of Hilton Head Island for repairs
- 2024Tropical Storm Debby$309K to the Town of Hilton Head Island for repairs4 flood claims paid for it, $175K
- 2023Hurricane Idalia$58K to the Town of Hilton Head Island for repairs
- 2022Hurricane Ian$26K to the Town of Hilton Head Island for repairs
- 2019Hurricane Dorian$2.4M to the Town of Hilton Head Island for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
- 2017Hurricane Irma$2.8M to the Town of Hilton Head Island for repairs170 flood claims paid for it, $3.6M
Show all 9
- 2016Hurricane Matthew1,700 households applied for aid$975K aid approved$38.1M to the Town of Hilton Head Island for repairs897 flood claims paid for it, $37.9M
- 2015Severe Storms and Flooding$825K to the Town of Hilton Head Island for repairs5 flood claims paid that year
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$162K to the Town of Hilton Head Island for repairs6 flood claims paid that year
Beaufort County has had 14 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 Hilton Head Island after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Hilton Head Island archive →Hilton Head Island and its neighbors
Hilton Head Island has the lowest expected damage per building of the 1 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hilton Head Island | D−among the highest damage | hurricanes | 1,412 |
| Daufuskie Island | — | 619 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 Hilton Head Island 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.
- 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.
- Hilton Head Island residents get 25% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Hilton Head Island
Is Hilton Head Island at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Hilton Head Island has among the highest expected damage per building of U.S. towns: D− for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (85%) and river and rain flooding (7%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Hilton Head Island flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1,412 claims in Hilton Head Island since 1987, $45.1M in all, or 46.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 92% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 96 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Matthew (897).
Is Hilton Head Island 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 Beaufort County, 39.7% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Hilton Head Island?
Hilton Head Island is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 5), which takes 25% 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 Hilton Head Island?
By FEMA money that reached Hilton Head Island, Hurricane Matthew (2016): 1,700 households applied for aid, $975K approved, and $38.1M to the Town of Hilton Head Island for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Matthew: 897 paid, $37.9M.
Is Hilton Head Island at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (85%), and Hilton Head Island’s rate for it is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Hilton Head Island.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Hilton Head Island’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.