FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Valley Falls as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Valley Falls gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns, #106 of 169 in South Carolina. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (83%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 2024.
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 Valley Falls 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
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 Valley Falls’ grade
River and rain flooding is 83% of the building damage FEMA expects in Valley Falls, and Valley Falls’ rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 74% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 4%, at a rate in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts.
C+ #106 of 169 in South Carolina; higher expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Valley Falls’ 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, Valley Falls has more expected damage per building than 62% of South Carolina towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.3M a year in losses across Valley Falls: $1.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Valley Falls flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 2024
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Valley Falls, from FEMA’s records: 0.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 95% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Helene1 claim · $77K
Valley Falls isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Spartanburg County.The storms Valley Falls remembers
None of the 18 disasters declared for Spartanburg County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Valley Falls itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20241 flood claims paidThe year of Hurricane Helene, declared for Spartanburg County
Spartanburg County has had 18 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 Valley Falls after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Valley Falls archive →Valley Falls and its neighbors
Valley Falls is 4th of the 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southern Shops | A+less damage than 95% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Whitney | A−less damage than 79% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Boiling Springs | C+more damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Valley Falls | C+more damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
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 Valley Falls 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.
- 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 Valley Falls
Is Valley Falls at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Valley Falls has higher expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #106 of 169 in South Carolina. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (83%) and earthquakes (6%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Valley Falls flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Valley Falls since 2024, $77K in all, or 0.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 95% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Hurricane Helene (1).
Is Valley Falls 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 Spartanburg County, 34% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Valley Falls?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Valley Falls’ 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 Valley Falls?
By flood claims, Hurricane Helene: 1 paid, $77K.
Is Valley Falls at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (83%), and Valley Falls’ rate for it is higher than 74% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Valley Falls.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Valley Falls’ 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.