FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Homewood than in 94% of U.S. towns, mostly from hurricanes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Homewood gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns, #138 of 169 in South Carolina. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (67%), then river and rain flooding (23%). FEMA’s files show no paid flood insurance claims here.
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 Homewood 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
Earthquakes
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 Homewood’s grade
Hurricanes are 67% of the building damage FEMA expects in Homewood, and Homewood’s rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts. Next is river and rain flooding at 23% (lower than 50% of U.S. census tracts).
D #138 of 169 in South Carolina; higher expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Homewood’s residents live in 3 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, Homewood has more expected damage per building than 82% of South Carolina towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.4M a year in losses across Homewood: $1.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Homewood flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Homewood. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Homewood 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.The storms Homewood remembers
None of the 19 disasters declared for Horry County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Homewood itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
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.
Homewood and its neighbors
Homewood is 2nd of the 2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conway | Dmore damage than 94% | hurricanes | 307 |
| Homewood | Dmore damage than 94% | hurricanes | 0 |
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 Homewood 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.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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 Homewood
Is Homewood at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Homewood has higher expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #138 of 169 in South Carolina. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (67%) and river and rain flooding (23%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Homewood 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 Homewood?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Homewood’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Homewood at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (67%), and Homewood’s rate for it is in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Homewood.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Homewood’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.