Buck's Upper Mill Farm · Photo: Pubdog · Public domainOn FEMA’s figures, Red Hill faces more hazard damage per building than 93% of U.S. towns, mostly from hurricanes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Red Hill gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 93% of U.S. towns, #133 of 169 in South Carolina. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (73%), then river and rain flooding (17%). Flood insurance has paid 117 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 Red Hill’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Red Hill 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 Red Hill’s grade
Hurricanes are 73% of the building damage FEMA expects in Red Hill, and Red Hill’s rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts. Next is river and rain flooding at 17% (lower than 72% of U.S. census tracts).
D #133 of 169 in South Carolina; higher expected damage per building than 93% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Red Hill’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, Red Hill has more expected damage per building than 79% of South Carolina towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $10.7M a year in losses across Red Hill: $8.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Red Hill flood? Yes: 117 flood claims since 1987
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Red Hill, from FEMA’s records: 16.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 81% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Florence31 claims · $3.0M
- The October severe storms27 claims · $699K
- Hurricane Floyd18 claims · $775K
Red Hill 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 Red Hill remembers
None of the 19 disasters declared for Horry County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Red Hill itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 201831 flood claims paidThe year of Hurricane Florence, declared for Horry County
- 201529 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms and Flooding, declared for Horry County
- 199920 flood claims paidThe year of Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations, declared for Horry County
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 Red Hill after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Red Hill archive →Red Hill and its neighbors
Red Hill has the lowest expected damage per building of the 3 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
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 Red Hill 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 Red Hill
Is Red Hill at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Red Hill has higher expected damage per building than 93% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #133 of 169 in South Carolina. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (73%) and river and rain flooding (17%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Red Hill flood?
Flood insurance has paid 117 claims in Red Hill since 1987, $5.5M in all, or 16.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 81% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Hurricane Florence (31).
Is Red Hill 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 Red Hill?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Red Hill’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 Red Hill?
By flood claims, Hurricane Florence: 31 paid, $3.0M.
Is Red Hill at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (73%), and Red Hill’s rate for it is in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Red Hill.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Red Hill’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.