Storms, floods and disasters in Smoaks
Smoaks isn’t graded for hazard risk: Smoaks has 95 residents; we grade towns of 1,000 or more. Flood insurance has paid 5 claims here since 2016.
What Smoaks 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.
Does Smoaks flood? Rarely: 5 flood claims since 2016
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Smoaks, from FEMA’s records.
- Hurricane Debby2 claims · $16K
- Hurricane Matthew1 claim · $7K
Smoaks isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Colleton County.4 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Smoaks
Disasters that paid out in Smoaks itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Smoaks), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Hurricane Helene14 households applied for aid$4K aid approved4 flood claims paid that year
- 2020Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Straight-line Winds60 households applied for aid$70K aid approved
- 2016Hurricane Matthew85 households applied for aid$20K aid approved1 flood claim paid for it, $7K
- 2015Severe Storms and Flooding151 households applied for aid$120K aid approved
Colleton County has had 16 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often hurricanes and tropical storms, then severe storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Smoaks after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Smoaks archive →Get ready for what Smoaks 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 Smoaks
Does Smoaks flood?
Flood insurance has paid 5 claims in Smoaks since 2016, $158K in all. The most claims came from Hurricane Debby (2).
Is Smoaks 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 Colleton County, 59% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 8.1% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Smoaks?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Smoaks’ 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 Smoaks?
By FEMA money that reached Smoaks, Severe Storms and Flooding (2015): 151 households applied for aid, $120K approved. By flood claims, Hurricane Debby: 2 paid, $16K.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Smoaks.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Smoaks’ 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.