Natural Disaster Risk in Union County

Natural Hazard Profile: Union County, South Carolina

Union County, in the United States in South Carolina, is characterized by its humid subtropical climate — hot, humid summers and mild winters. The county faces an active hurricane season with direct storm threat to the coastline, and its FEMA risk assessment establishes the hazard baseline shared by all the towns and cities it contains.

Union County's overall natural disaster risk is rated 6.4/10 (High) by FEMA's National Risk Index. Freezing rain and ice accretion are the primary winter hazard, with glaze ice events capable of downing power lines, snapping tree limbs, and making roads impassable for days. Secondary hazards include lightning and cold wave.

Within South Carolina, Union County's risk is, near the 6.6/10 state average. Nationally, it ranks above the U.S. national average of 4.5/10. FEMA's analysis of Union County identifies ice storm as the foremost hazard, followed by lightning and cold wave. These rankings reflect the relative frequency and severity of each hazard type in the local environment.

With a high natural disaster risk rating, Union County residents benefit from taking preparedness seriously. Reviewing insurance coverage for ice storm 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.