Natural Disaster Risk in Hartsville

Natural Hazard Profile: Hartsville, South Carolina

Hartsville, in Darlington County, is a city of approximately 29,924 residents situated near the Atlantic Coast of the southeastern United States. Its humid subtropical climate brings hot, humid summers and mild winters, and in particular an active hurricane season with direct storm threat to the coastline. These conditions collectively define the natural hazard environment that Hartsville residents and property owners must navigate.

Hartsville's overall natural disaster risk is rated 7.0/10 (High) by FEMA's National Risk Index. 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. Secondary hazards include earthquake and tornado.

Within South Carolina, Hartsville's risk is, slightly above the 6.6/10 state average. Nationally, it ranks well above the U.S. national average of 4.5/10. FEMA's analysis of Darlington County identifies hurricane as the foremost hazard, followed by earthquake and tornado. These rankings reflect the relative frequency and severity of each hazard type in the local environment.

With a high natural disaster risk rating, Hartsville residents benefit from taking preparedness seriously. Reviewing insurance coverage for hurricane and secondary hazards, registering for emergency alerts, and maintaining a household emergency kit are practical steps that can significantly reduce impact during a major event.