Burdette Building · Photo: Upstateherd · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Simpsonville faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Simpsonville gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns, #80 of 169 in South Carolina. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (76%). Flood insurance has paid 19 claims here since 1995.
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 Simpsonville 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 Simpsonville’s grade
River and rain flooding is 76% of the building damage FEMA expects in Simpsonville, and Simpsonville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 60% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 5%, at a rate in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts.
B #80 of 169 in South Carolina; lower expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Simpsonville’s residents live in 10 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, Simpsonville has less expected damage per building than 53% of South Carolina towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $7.2M a year in losses across Simpsonville: $5.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Simpsonville flood? Sometimes: 19 flood claims since 1995
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Simpsonville, from FEMA’s records: 1.8 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 64% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Helene4 claims · $92K
Simpsonville isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Greenville County.5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Simpsonville
Disasters that paid out in Simpsonville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Simpsonville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Hurricane Helene15,305 households applied for aid$9.5M aid approved$3.8M to the City of Simpsonville for repairs4 flood claims paid for it, $92K
- 2015Severe Storms and Flooding51 households applied for aid$28K aid approved
- 2005Severe Ice Storm$78K to the City of Simpsonville for repairs
- 2004Tropical Storm Frances10 households applied for aid$5K aid approved2 flood claims paid that year
- 2002Severe Ice Storm$69K to the City of Simpsonville for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
Greenville County has had 16 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 2 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Greenville County, 2016–2025.
Old photos of Simpsonville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Simpsonville archive →Simpsonville and its neighbors
Simpsonville 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fountain Inn | A−less damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Simpsonville | Bless damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 19 |
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 Simpsonville 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 Simpsonville
Is Simpsonville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Simpsonville has lower expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #80 of 169 in South Carolina. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (76%) and tornadoes (8%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Simpsonville flood?
Flood insurance has paid 19 claims in Simpsonville since 1995, $323K in all, or 1.8 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 64% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 3 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Helene (4).
Is Simpsonville 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 Greenville County, 45% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.6% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Simpsonville?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Simpsonville’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 Simpsonville?
By FEMA money that reached Simpsonville, Hurricane Helene (2024): 15,305 households applied for aid, $9.5M approved, and $3.8M to the City of Simpsonville for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Helene: 4 paid, $92K.
Is Simpsonville at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (76%), and Simpsonville’s rate for it is higher than 60% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Simpsonville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Simpsonville’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.