Natural Disasters in Westminster, SC

Hazard risk, disaster history, and FEMA data

Natural Hazard Risk

Source: FEMA National Risk Index

Risk Score

85.6

Relatively Moderate

Expected Annual Loss

82.0

Score (0-100)

Social Vulnerability

70.5

Score (0-100)

Community Resilience

42.1

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

22

Public Assistance

$9.6M

Individual Assistance

$2.5M

Most Common Type

Hurricane

11 declarations

Public Assistance by Category

DisasterTypeDatePA $IA $
Severe Winter Storm ā†’Winter StormJan 2026ā€”ā€”
Hurricane Helene ā†’HurricaneSep 2024$1.8M$1.3M
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$6.4M$923K
Covid-19 Pandemic ā†’BiologicalMar 2020$50K$232K
Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line ā€¦ ā†’Severe StormMar 2020$447Kā€”
Covid-19 ā†’BiologicalMar 2020ā€”ā€”
Hurricane Dorian ā†’HurricaneSep 2019ā€”ā€”
Hurricane Florence ā†’HurricaneSep 2018ā€”ā€”
Hurricane Irma ā†’HurricaneOct 2017$473Kā€”
Hurricane Irma ā†’HurricaneSep 2017ā€”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€”
Severe Ice Storm ā†’Severe Ice StormJan 2006$363Kā€”
Hurricane Katrina Evacuation ā†’HurricaneSep 2005$3Kā€”
Tropical Storm Frances ā†’HurricaneOct 2004ā€”$34K

Showing 20 of 22 disasters

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

Flood Insurance (NFIP)

Source: FEMA NFIP

Total Claims

24

Total Claims Paid

$179,375

Avg Claim Payout

$7,474

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

Hazard Mitigation

Source: FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance

Mitigation Projects

8

Federal Funding

$295,003

Avg Benefit-Cost Ratio

0.37

BCR

Top Mitigation Project Types

Project TypeProjectsFederal $
602.1: Other Equipment Purchase and Installation2$30,000
403.1: Stormwater Management - Culverts1$140,741
91.5: Local Multijurisdictional Multihazard Mitigation Plan - UPDATE1$12,368
601.2: Generators - Regular1$0
91.1: Local Multihazard Mitigation Plan1$83,508

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

Westminster has a relatively moderate overall natural hazard risk rating according to FEMA's National Risk Index. The top hazard risks are cold wave, ice storm, landslide. The area has had 22 federal disaster declarations. The most common disaster type is hurricane (11 declarations). 24 flood insurance claims have been filed in the area. FEMA has obligated $9,592,628 in public assistance recovery funding. $2,473,712 has been distributed in individual assistance to disaster-affected residents. 8 hazard mitigation projects have been funded to reduce future risk.