Conway, South Carolina Flood Zones
Conway was inundated for weeks after Hurricane Florence in 2018 when the Waccamaw River experienced a delayed, slow-moving flood crest. The unique delayed-flooding phenomenon means Conway floods days after coastal storms pass.
FEMA Flood Risk Profile: Horry 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: $40.3M
Coastal Flood Risk
Relatively HighEst. annual loss: $4.0M
Hurricane Risk
Very HighEst. annual loss: $200.5M
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county-level assessment. Individual property risk may vary.
Federal Flood Disaster History: Horry County
Horry County has been included in 20 federal flood-related disaster declarations.
...and 12 earlier declarations since 1989.
These declarations affected communities across Horry County, including Conway.
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries API. Data sourced February 2026.
NFIP Flood Insurance Claims: Horry County
Properties in Horry County have filed 12,522 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $338.2M in payouts since 1978. The average claim payout is $27K.
Highest-Claim Years
1989
3,286 claims - $118.2M
2016
1,443 claims - $40.5M
1999
1,342 claims - $19.7M
Claims by Flood Zone
Zone AE
5,218
Zone A
3,141
Zone X
2,841
Zone VE
650
Zone V
576
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Claims API. Data sourced February 2026.
Common Flood Zones in Conway
Properties in Conway, SC are commonly designated in these FEMA flood zones:
What Your Flood Zone Means in Conway
Conway faces flood risk primarily from river and stream overflow during heavy rainfall, snowmelt, or upstream dam releases. When rivers exceed their banks, floodwaters spread across low-lying areas mapped in AE and A zones. The most common FEMA flood zone designations in Conway are Zone AE, Zone X. FEMA's National Risk Index estimates the county's annual expected loss from inland flooding at over $40.3M.
Riverine flood risk in Conway is driven by the proximity and elevation of properties relative to nearby waterways. Properties closer to rivers with lower ground elevations typically face higher flood insurance premiums under FEMA's Risk Rating 2.0. 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.
River flood maps can change when FEMA conducts new Flood Insurance Studies or when development alters drainage patterns. Letters of Map Amendment (LOMA) can remove individual properties if the natural ground elevation was always above the Base Flood Elevation and the property was inadvertently mapped in the SFHA. Use our free lookup tool to check the current flood zone for any Conway address.
Check Your Conway Address
Enter any Conway, SC address to instantly see its FEMA flood zone, risk level, and whether flood insurance is required.
Free Flood Zone LookupConway, SC Flood Zone FAQ
What flood zones are in Conway, SC?
The most common FEMA flood zones in Conway are Zone AE, 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 Conway?
If your Conway 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 Conway?
Enter your Conway 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.
What type of flooding affects Conway?
Conway is primarily affected by river and stream overflow during heavy rainfall. The most common FEMA flood zone designations are Zone AE, Zone X. Use the free lookup tool above to check the specific flood zone for any Conway address.
Has Conway experienced major flooding events?
Horry County, where Conway is located, has been part of 20 federal disaster declarations for flooding, hurricanes, or severe storms. The most recent was Hurricane Idalia in 2023. Federal disaster declarations are issued when flooding overwhelms local resources and triggers FEMA assistance programs.
How many flood insurance claims have been filed in Conway?
Horry County has recorded 12,522 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $338.2M in payouts since 1978. The year with the most claims was 1989, with 3,286 claims and $118.2M in payouts. These figures cover all NFIP claims in the county, including Conway.
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