South Carolina, with its beautiful beaches and coastal vibes, also has a rich history of flooding. Hundreds of floods happen across South Carolina every year. While not all are deemed a disaster, as a homeowner, it's worth knowing whether your property is at risk of flooding so you can purchase proper flood insurance.

Flood insurance is not included in your homeowners policy, which is why a South Carolina independent insurance agent can help you get this additional coverage. They'll work with you to understand your home's flood history and potential future risks and find a flood insurance package that will protect you in the event that your property or belongings are damaged by natural water.

Is Flood Insurance Required in South Carolina?

For homeowners who live in a high-risk flood zone, South Carolina flood insurance is a required insurance policy. However, not all areas of South Carolina are considered high-risk flood zones, and sometimes even homes in a high-risk flood zone may not require flood insurance. An independent insurance agent can help you determine if your home is located in a zone that does require insurance.  The important thing to know is that flood insurance is not included in South Carolina home insurance policies, so if you do live somewhere in South Carolina that is at risk of flooding, you will need to purchase flood insurance separate from your other home insurance policies.

What Are the Flood Zones in South Carolina?

Nearly every city in South Carolina has flood zones. For cities located on the coast, they're at risk of flooding from the Atlantic Ocean as well as inland rivers and streams. For other cities like Greenville or Little River, there is still flood risk from rivers and streams. Finding a state-wide map of flood zones can be difficult, but you can look up flood zones by the city through the  Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) flood maps. It's important to note that some of these maps are outdated. When looking at a FEMA flood map for a specific city, flood zones are labeled in the following ways.

High Flood Risk Areas in South Carolina

High flood risk - coastal areas in South Carolina

Undetermined risk areas in South Carolina

What's Considered to Be a Flood in South Carolina?

In South Carolina, a variety of weather patterns can cause flooding, from thunderstorms and hurricanes to severe rain and other weather events. This puts the state at risk for multiple types of flooding.

• Flash flooding: When high water rapidly flows into what is normally a dry area or an area experiences rapid water level rise in a stream or creek that goes above a predetermined flood level. If the water levels rise within six hours of the event that caused the increase in water, then it's deemed a flash flood. 
• Riverine flooding: When river levels rise above the capacity of the river's banks and natural drainage system, causing the river to overflow the banks and flood surrounding areas.
• Coastal flooding:  When land is submerged in seawater by waves, tides, storm surges, or heavy rainfall as a result of a coastal weather event like a hurricane. 
• Dam breaks: When water overtops a dam structure or general surrounding ground or structural failure causes a dam to seep or fully break. 
• Snowmelt: When rapidly warming temperatures cause the quick melting of snow and the water runoff causes nearby streams and rivers to rapidly rise.
• Debris jams:  When a river or stream is backed up by debris or ice, causing the river to flood.

Rivers, dams, and creeks have a predetermined flood level, and any event that causes water to surpass these predetermined levels is considered a flood in South Carolina. 

Flood Stats in South Carolina

In South Carolina, What Does Flood Insurance Cover?

In a nutshell, South Carolina flood insurance covers your property, structures, and most of your belongings in the event that they're damaged or ruined by a covered flood event. 

• Damage to/loss of your home: Including the foundation of the structure, electrical systems, indoor plumbing, built-in appliances, and additional flooring installed - such as carpeting.
• Damage to/loss of your stuff: Including furniture (built-in and free-standing), smaller/not built-in appliances, some food, valuables and clothing.

Covered flood events are the five floods listed above and any damage that's caused by natural water. This means that if you overflow your bathtub and flood your basement, it will not be covered by flood damage. Many policies will specify that water must cover at least two acres of normally dry land in order to qualify for reimbursement. 

How Much Does Flood Insurance Cost in South Carolina? 

The cost of flood insurance will vary greatly depending on where your home is located, the size of your property, your risk of flooding, and the value of your home and belongings. On average, you can expect to pay around $500 a year for flood insurance. 

How Can an Independent Insurance Agent Help?

As you can tell, South Carolina has a long way to go when it comes to properly mapping out the flood zones that are at risk in the state. Whether you live in a low-risk zone or high-risk zone, a South Carolina independent insurance agent can help you determine whether you need to add flood insurance to your homeowners policy. They understand the different areas of the state and know where homes are at higher risk. They also do the insurance shopping for you. They can help you determine your best and most affordable option for flood insurance and remain by your side if you end up having to file a claim.