Obediah Shirley House · Photo: Bill Fitzpatrick · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA puts Honea Path’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 78% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Honea Path gets an A− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 78% of U.S. towns, #23 of 169 in South Carolina. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (65%), then tornadoes (12%). 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 Honea Path 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
Tornadoes
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 Honea Path’s grade
River and rain flooding is 65% of the building damage FEMA expects in Honea Path, and Honea Path’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 72% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 5%, at a rate in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
A− #23 of 169 in South Carolina; lower expected damage per building than 78% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Honea Path’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, Honea Path has less expected damage per building than 87% of South Carolina towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.1M a year in losses across Honea Path: $555K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Honea Path flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Honea Path. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Honea Path isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Anderson County.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Honea Path
Disasters that paid out in Honea Path itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Honea Path), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Hurricane Helene2,417 households applied for aid$1.8M aid approved$48K to the Town of Honea Path for repairs
- 2015Severe Storms and Flooding1 households applied for aid$491 aid approved
- 2005Severe Ice Storm$25K to the Town of Honea Path for repairs
Anderson 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 Honea Path after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Honea Path archive →Get ready for what Honea Path 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.
- 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.
- 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 Honea Path
Is Honea Path at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Honea Path has lower expected damage per building than 78% of U.S. towns: A− for hazard risk, #23 of 169 in South Carolina. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (65%) and tornadoes (12%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Honea Path 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 Anderson County, 21% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Honea Path?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Honea Path’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 Honea Path?
By FEMA money that reached Honea Path, Hurricane Helene (2024): 2,417 households applied for aid, $1.8M approved, and $48K to the Town of Honea Path for repairs.
Is Honea Path at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (65%), and Honea Path’s rate for it is lower than 72% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Honea Path.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Honea Path’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.