Hilton Head Island, SC Flood Zone Map
Last updated: August 2026
Hilton Head Island is a Beaufort County barrier island resort community with extensive tidal marsh flooding and hurricane storm surge exposure. Hurricanes Matthew and Irma caused significant damage across the island. The community holds a CRS Class 5 rating, reflecting strong floodplain management.
Beaufort County has recorded 4,968 NFIP flood insurance claims since 1978, totaling $80.6M in payouts. Explore the full NFIP claims data by state and county to see how this area compares nationally.
FEMA Region
Region 4
NFIP Policies
53,778
Beaufort County
Avg. Premium
$728/yr
Beaufort County
NFIP Flood Insurance Claims: Beaufort County
Properties in Beaufort County have filed 4,968 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $80.6M 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
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Claims API. Data sourced August 2026. See national claims data.
Flood Insurance Coverage: Beaufort County
Only nearly all households in Beaufort County carries NFIP flood insurance (73% of estimated households).
Penetration Rate
73%
nearly all households
Historical Claims Ratio
1 in 11
4,968 claims over 45+ years across 53,778 current policies
Avg. Claim Payout
$16,231
Per claim, county-wide since 1978
Historically, Beaufort County has averaged 1 claim for every 11 active policies (since 1978). This compares cumulative claims against today's policy count and does not predict future claim likelihood.
Coverage data: NFIP policies as of August 2026, claims since 1978 (August 2026), population from FEMA NRI. All figures are county-wide and include Hilton Head Island.
Not sure whether you're required to carry it? See do I need flood insurance?, or compare NFIP vs. private flood insurance.
Repetitive Loss Properties: Beaufort County
Beaufort County has 355 properties with multiple flood insurance losses, including 10 severe repetitive loss properties. 10 properties have received FEMA mitigation funding. Severe repetitive loss is a subset of multiple loss, not a separate count. Data sourced August 2026.
Multiple Loss
355
2+ claims within 10 years
Severe Repetitive Loss
10
4+ claims or 2 exceeding value
Mitigated
10
Received FEMA mitigation
By Flood Zone
Zone data available for 354 of 355 properties.
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Multiple Loss Properties. Data sourced August 2026.
Flood Insurance Discount: Hilton Head Island
Hilton Head Island 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 5
SFHA Premium Discount
25% off
CRS classes range from 1 (best) to 10 (no discount). Hilton Head Island's Class 5 rating means NFIP policyholders in the SFHA can receive up to a 25% discount on their flood insurance premiums. Properties outside the SFHA may receive a 10% discount.
Source: FEMA Community Rating System, April 2026. Discounts apply to NFIP policies only.
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 Hilton Head Island.
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries API. Data sourced August 2026.
Recorded Flood Events: Beaufort County
NOAA has recorded 46 flood events in Beaufort County since 1996, causing $26K in damage.
Costliest Events
Events by Type
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, 1996-2026. Data sourced August 2026.
Flood Mitigation: Beaufort County
FEMA has funded mitigation for 30 properties in Beaufort County, investing $981K in flood risk reduction. Common mitigation actions include acquisition (buying and demolishing flood-prone structures), elevation (raising buildings above flood level), and safe rooms (wind/storm shelters for tornado and hurricane protection).
By Action Type
Source: OpenFEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance. Data sourced August 2026. FEMA records a total payment per grant rather than per property, so the dollar figure is an estimate that splits each grant across the properties it covers; the property count is exact.
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.
What Your Flood Zone Means in Hilton Head Island
Hilton Head Island 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 Hilton Head Island are Zone VE, Zone AE, Zone X. FEMA's National Risk Index estimates the county's annual expected loss from inland flooding at over $19.7M. Properties in Hilton Head Island'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 Hilton Head Island 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 Hilton Head Island address.
Hilton Head Island, SC Flood Zone FAQ
What flood zones are in Hilton Head Island, SC?
The most common FEMA flood zones in Hilton Head Island are Zone VE, 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 Hilton Head Island?
If your Hilton Head Island 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 a quarter of all NFIP flood claims come from properties outside high-risk zones.
How do I check my flood zone in Hilton Head Island?
Enter your Hilton Head Island 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 Hilton Head Island offer flood insurance discounts?
Yes. Hilton Head Island participates in FEMA's Community Rating System (CRS) with a Class 5 rating, qualifying residents in the Special Flood Hazard Area for up to a 25% discount on NFIP flood insurance premiums. Properties outside the SFHA may receive a 10% discount.
Has Hilton Head Island experienced major flooding events?
Beaufort County, where Hilton Head Island 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 Hilton Head Island?
Beaufort County has recorded 4,968 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $80.6M 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 Hilton Head Island.
How many flood insurance policies are there in Hilton Head Island?
Beaufort County had 53,778 NFIP flood insurance policies written or renewed over the trailing 13 months, with an average annual premium of $728. The most policies are in Zone X (32,021 policies). These are county-level counts of policies written or renewed in the trailing 13 months, not a point-in-time count of policies in force - a policy renewed inside that window is counted twice.
How many Hilton Head Island properties have flooded repeatedly?
Beaufort County has 355 properties with multiple flood losses on record, including 10 severe repetitive loss properties. These are properties that have experienced four or more NFIP claims of $5,000+ or two claims exceeding the building value.
Can my Hilton Head Island property be removed from a high-risk flood zone?
Yes, if your property's natural ground elevation is above the Base Flood Elevation and FEMA inadvertently mapped it in a high-risk zone, you can apply for a Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA). A successful LOMA removes the property from the Special Flood Hazard Area, generally eliminating the federal mandatory flood insurance requirement. You will need an elevation certificate from a licensed surveyor. If a property was raised above the BFE with fill material, the process is a LOMR-F rather than a LOMA.
What is Base Flood Elevation in Hilton Head Island?
Base Flood Elevation (BFE) is the predicted height of floodwaters during a 1% annual chance (100-year) flood, shown on FEMA maps as an elevation number in feet above sea level. In Hilton Head Island's Zone VE and Zone AE areas, BFE lines appear on the FIRM as wavy contours labeled with elevation values. Properties with a lowest floor at or above the BFE typically qualify for significantly lower NFIP flood insurance premiums.
Other South Carolina Cities
Understanding Flood Zones
See the Flood Map for Any Hilton Head Island, SC Address
Enter a Hilton Head Island, SC address to view its FEMA flood map, zone designation, SFHA status, and insurance requirements.
Disclaimer: Flood risk data on this page is sourced from FEMA datasets including the National Risk Index, NFIP claims and policy records, disaster declarations, and the Community Rating System. These datasets were last extracted on August 2026 and may not reflect the most recent changes. Always verify current flood zone status through FEMA or a licensed determination provider before making property, insurance, or lending decisions.