Natural Disaster Risk in Barnwell County

Natural Hazard Profile: Barnwell County, South Carolina

Barnwell County is located in the United States in South Carolina, home to roughly 20,573 residents. The county experiences hot, humid summers and mild winters, with an active hurricane season with direct storm threat to the coastline shaping the natural hazards faced by its communities. FEMA assesses risk at this county level, providing the baseline for every city and ZIP code within its boundaries.

FEMA rates Barnwell County's composite natural disaster risk at 5.6 out of 10 — moderate risk. Tropical cyclones are the dominant hazard, with the area facing threats from both direct landfalling hurricanes and the outer rain bands and storm surge of systems making landfall nearby. Residents should also account for earthquake and tornado risk in their preparedness planning.

Barnwell County's risk score, slightly below the 6.6/10 state average and above the U.S. national average of 4.5/10. Of the 18 hazard categories tracked by FEMA for Barnwell County, the highest-scoring are hurricane, earthquake, and tornado. These scores reflect county-level data and represent the baseline risk that all communities in the county share.

Barnwell County's moderate risk profile means that while catastrophic events are less frequent, they do occur. Standard homeowners insurance typically covers many common hazards here, but confirming that hurricane exposure is adequately protected is a worthwhile step for property owners.