Natural Disasters in Clemson University, SC

Hazard risk, disaster history, and FEMA data

Natural Hazard Risk

Source: FEMA National Risk Index

Risk Score

77.6

Relatively Low

Expected Annual Loss

77.9

Score (0-100)

Social Vulnerability

41.0

Score (0-100)

Community Resilience

45.3

Score (0-100)

Scores range from 0 (lowest risk) to 100 (highest risk) relative to all U.S. communities. Data from FEMA National Risk Index.

Disaster History & Federal Spending

Source: FEMA

Total Declarations

24

Public Assistance

$47.8M

Individual Assistance

$9.6M

Most Common Type

Hurricane

11 declarations

Public Assistance by Category

Total: $47.9M
DisasterTypeDatePA $IA $
Severe Winter Storm ā†’Winter StormJan 2026ā€”ā€”
Table Rock Fire Complex ā†’FireMar 2025ā€”ā€”
Table Rock Fire ā†’FireMar 2025ā€”ā€”
Hurricane Helene ā†’HurricaneSep 2024$41.3M$7.1M
Hurricane Debby ā†’Tropical StormAug 2024ā€”ā€”
Hurricane Idalia ā†’HurricaneAug 2023ā€”ā€”
Hurricane Ian ā†’HurricaneNov 2022ā€”ā€”
Hurricane Ian ā†’HurricaneSep 2022ā€”ā€”
Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Straight-lā€¦ ā†’Severe StormMay 2020$977K$928K
Covid-19 Pandemic ā†’BiologicalMar 2020$267K$1.5M
Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line ā€¦ ā†’Severe StormMar 2020$428Kā€”
Covid-19 ā†’BiologicalMar 2020ā€”ā€”
Hurricane Dorian ā†’HurricaneSep 2019ā€”ā€”
Hurricane Florence ā†’HurricaneSep 2018ā€”ā€”
Hurricane Irma ā†’HurricaneOct 2017$1.9Mā€”
Hurricane Irma ā†’HurricaneSep 2017ā€”ā€”
Pinnacle Mountain Fire ā†’FireNov 2016ā€”ā€”
Hurricane Matthew ā†’HurricaneOct 2016ā€”ā€”
Severe Storms and Flooding ā†’Severe StormOct 2015ā€”ā€”
Severe Winter Storm ā†’Severe Ice StormFeb 2014ā€”ā€”

Showing 20 of 27 disasters

PA = FEMA Public Assistance (infrastructure recovery). IA = Individual Assistance (homeowner/renter aid).

Flood Insurance (NFIP)

Source: FEMA NFIP

Total Claims

63

Total Claims Paid

$1,663,894

Avg Claim Payout

$26,411

County-level NFIP data from FEMA National Flood Insurance Program.

Hazard Mitigation

Source: FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance

Mitigation Projects

9

Federal Funding

$2,001,260

Properties Protected

1

Avg Benefit-Cost Ratio

3.65

BCR

Top Mitigation Project Types

Project TypeProjectsFederal $
601.2: Generators - Regular2$0
405.1: Other Minor Flood Control1$0
401.1: Water and Sanitary Sewer System Protective Measures1$138,023
104.1: Developing, Implementing and Enforcing Codes, Standards, Ordinances and Regulations1$1,773,869
601.1: Generators1$0

Federally funded projects to reduce future disaster risk. Only includes completed or obligated projects.

Clemson University has a relatively low overall natural hazard risk rating according to FEMA's National Risk Index. The top hazard risks are ice storm, lightning, earthquake. The area has had 24 federal disaster declarations. The most common disaster type is hurricane (11 declarations). 63 flood insurance claims have been filed in the area. FEMA has obligated $47,765,872 in public assistance recovery funding. $9,625,400 has been distributed in individual assistance to disaster-affected residents. 9 hazard mitigation projects have been funded to reduce future risk.