Beaufort, South Carolina Flood Zones
Beaufort sits on Port Royal Island surrounded by tidal marshes and rivers, making it highly vulnerable to storm surge and tidal flooding. Sea level rise is increasing the frequency of nuisance flooding.
FEMA Flood Risk Profile: Beaufort County
Based on FEMA's National Risk Index, which evaluates flood risk at the county level using historical loss data, exposure, and vulnerability.
Inland Flood Risk
Relatively ModerateEst. annual loss: $19.7M
Coastal Flood Risk
Relatively HighEst. annual loss: $9.8M
Hurricane Risk
Very HighEst. annual loss: $200.6M
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county-level assessment. Individual property risk may vary.
Federal Flood Disaster History: Beaufort County
Beaufort County has been included in 15 federal flood-related disaster declarations.
...and 7 earlier declarations since 1999.
These declarations affected communities across Beaufort County, including Beaufort.
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries API. Data sourced February 2026.
NFIP Flood Insurance Claims: Beaufort County
Properties in Beaufort County have filed 4,965 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $80.5M in payouts since 1978. The average claim payout is $16K.
Highest-Claim Years
2016
2,698 claims - $55.4M
2017
728 claims - $14.2M
1994
503 claims - $3.2M
Claims by Flood Zone
Zone A
2,044
Zone AE
1,794
Zone X
929
Zone V
124
Zone VE
60
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Claims API. Data sourced February 2026.
Common Flood Zones in Beaufort
Properties in Beaufort, SC are commonly designated in these FEMA flood zones:
What Your Flood Zone Means in Beaufort
Beaufort is primarily at risk from coastal flooding, including hurricane storm surge, tidal flooding, and wave action. Coastal storms can push seawater inland with little warning, and properties in VE (Velocity) zones face the most severe exposure to breaking waves. The most common FEMA flood zone designations in Beaufort are Zone AE, Zone VE, Zone X. FEMA's National Risk Index estimates the county's annual expected loss from inland flooding at over $19.7M. Properties in Beaufort's VE zones face additional wave action risk beyond still-water flooding, which typically results in higher insurance premiums and stricter building requirements.
Coastal flood insurance premiums in Beaufort are typically higher than inland areas due to the destructive force of storm surge and wave action. Properties in VE zones face the highest premiums because wave damage compounds the risk beyond still-water flooding. If your property is in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) and you have a federally regulated or government-backed mortgage, federal law generally requires your lender to ensure you carry flood insurance.
Coastal flood maps are among the most frequently updated in the FEMA system, as shoreline erosion and new storm surge modeling refine the boundaries. Letters of Map Revision (LOMR) may shift VE and AE zone boundaries after major storms or updated coastal studies. Use our free lookup tool to check the current flood zone for any Beaufort address.
Flood Insurance Discount: Beaufort
Beaufort participates in FEMA's Community Rating System (CRS), a voluntary program that rewards communities for flood mitigation efforts beyond minimum NFIP requirements. Residents in the Special Flood Hazard Area may qualify for reduced flood insurance premiums.
CRS Class
Class 6
SFHA Premium Discount
20% off
CRS classes range from 1 (best) to 10 (no discount). Beaufort's Class 6 rating means NFIP policyholders in the SFHA can receive up to a 20% discount on their flood insurance premiums. Properties outside the SFHA may receive a 10% discount.
Source: FEMA Community Rating System, October 2025. Discounts apply to NFIP policies only.
Check Your Beaufort Address
Enter any Beaufort, SC address to instantly see its FEMA flood zone, risk level, and whether flood insurance is required.
Free Flood Zone LookupBeaufort, SC Flood Zone FAQ
What flood zones are in Beaufort, SC?
The most common FEMA flood zones in Beaufort are Zone AE, Zone VE, Zone X. Properties in these high-risk zones (SFHA) may require flood insurance with a federally regulated or government-backed mortgage.
Is flood insurance required in Beaufort?
If your Beaufort property is in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) and you have a federally regulated or government-backed mortgage, federal law generally requires your lender to ensure you carry flood insurance. Properties in Zone X are not federally required to carry flood insurance, though coverage is still recommended since about 25% of all NFIP flood claims come from Zone X properties.
How do I check my flood zone in Beaufort?
Enter your Beaufort address in the search tool above for an instant flood zone determination. Results include your FEMA flood zone, SFHA status, base flood elevation (if available), and FIRM panel information, pulled directly from FEMA's National Flood Hazard Layer.
Does Beaufort offer flood insurance discounts?
Yes. Beaufort participates in FEMA's Community Rating System (CRS) with a Class 6 rating, qualifying residents in the Special Flood Hazard Area for up to a 20% discount on NFIP flood insurance premiums. Properties outside the SFHA may receive a 10% discount.
Has Beaufort experienced major flooding events?
Beaufort County, where Beaufort is located, has been part of 15 federal disaster declarations for flooding, hurricanes, or severe storms. The most recent was Hurricane Helene in 2024. Federal disaster declarations are issued when flooding overwhelms local resources and triggers FEMA assistance programs.
How many flood insurance claims have been filed in Beaufort?
Beaufort County has recorded 4,965 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $80.5M in payouts since 1978. The year with the most claims was 2016, with 2,698 claims and $55.4M in payouts. These figures cover all NFIP claims in the county, including Beaufort.
Sources
This page summarizes information from FEMA and other official resources in plain language. For full technical details, see the links below.
- FEMA National Flood Hazard LayerDirect Source
The NFHL is the source of all flood zone data shown on this page.
- FEMA Map Service Center — Search by AddressDirect Source
Look up any address to view FIRM panels, FIS reports, and LOMCs.
- NFHL Data and Map StatusTopic Page
View NFHL coverage and data freshness by state and community.
- FEMA National Risk Index — Data ResourcesDirect Source
County-level risk scores for inland flooding, coastal flooding, and hurricane used in the Flood Risk Profile.
- OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries API v2Direct Source
Federal disaster declarations filtered for flood-related incident types (Flood, Hurricane, Severe Storm, Coastal Storm).
- OpenFEMA FIMA NFIP Claims API v2Direct Source
Historical NFIP flood insurance claims since 1978, aggregated by county and state. Includes claim counts, payouts, and flood zone breakdowns.
Sources last verified: February 2026