Laurens County, SC
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Laurens County has experienced 23 federally declared disasters since 1977, most recently Severe Winter Storm in 2026. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Laurens County's highest-rated hazards are cold wave, ice storm, and strong wind, with its top risk rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have increased 27% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period. Community vulnerability is elevated (89th percentile nationally), suggesting residents may face greater difficulty recovering from major disasters.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Laurens County has been designated in 23 declarations since 1977, covering 9 disaster types including hurricane (10), severe ice storm (3), biological (2).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2024 | Hurricane | Hurricane Helene |
| 2024 | Tropical Storm | Hurricane Helene |
| 2024 | Tropical Storm | Hurricane Debby |
| 2023 | Hurricane | Hurricane Idalia |
| 2023 | Hurricane | Hurricane Ian |
| 2022 | Hurricane | Hurricane Ian |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2019 | Hurricane | Hurricane Dorian |
Showing the 10 most recent of 23 total declarations since 1977.
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries. A single disaster can produce more than one record per county. Data current through September 2026.
Risk by hazard type
| Hazard | Risk rating | Risk score | Recorded events | Deaths | Prop. damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | Very Low | 49.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 71.9 | 4 | 0 | $19K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | 81.9 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 73.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | 65.2 | 9 | 0 | $370K |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | 76.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 68 | 13 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively High | 89.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 38.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively High | 90.9 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively High | 94.1 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | 81.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Low | 50.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 51.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Tsunami | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Volcanic Activity | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
Scores are 0–100 percentiles relative to all US counties — higher means more exposed, not that a disaster is likely this year. Event counts: NOAA Storm Events 2016–2026; earthquake counts from USGS ComCat (M3.0+, 1996–2026). See the methodology page for details.
Community vulnerability
Laurens County ranks in the 89th percentile (High) for community vulnerability — a measure of how hard disaster impacts tend to hit residents. Higher vulnerability means more displacement, worse health outcomes, and slower recovery after a disaster.
| SVI theme | Percentile | Vulnerability level |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 89th | High |
| Socioeconomic status | 89th | High |
| Household characteristics | 85th | High |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 70th | Moderate |
| Housing type & transportation | 82nd | High |
Source: CDC/ATSDR Social Vulnerability Index 2022. Percentiles compare counties nationally — higher means more vulnerable relative to other counties. See CDC SVI for full methodology.
Future risk outlook
| Wildfire metric | National percentile | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Burn probability | 55th | Relatively Moderate |
| Risk to homes | 51st | Relatively Moderate |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 81.9% | — |
NOAA tracked 25 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 11 in 2016–20 vs 14 in 2021–25 (+27% — frequency increasing).
Wildfire: USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (RDS-2020-0016-2) — modeled values, not annual forecasts. See wildfirerisk.org. Inland flood and heat projections pending data availability; coastal sea-level projections are available for select coastal counties below — see the data page.
Nearby counties
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards pose the greatest risk in Laurens County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Laurens County, South Carolina are cold wave, ice storm, and strong wind. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Laurens County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Laurens County has received 23 federal disaster declarations since 1977, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is hurricane (10 declarations).
Has Laurens County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Laurens County include Severe Winter Storm (2026), Hurricane Helene (2024), Hurricane Helene (2024), Hurricane Debby (2024). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1977.
How does Laurens County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Greenville County, SC has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and Abbeville County, SC has the lowest (Relatively Low). Laurens County is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Laurens County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Laurens County's composite disaster risk index — officially FEMA's National Risk Index (NRI) — scores every US county on a 0–100 percentile scale across 18 natural hazard types, factoring in expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience. Laurens County's composite score of 76 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 76% of US counties.