Mount Pleasant, SC Flood Zone Map
Last updated: August 2026
Mount Pleasant east of the Cooper River faces tidal flooding along Shem Creek and storm surge from Charleston Harbor, with rapid suburban growth pushing development into flood-prone areas. The town holds a CRS Class 6 rating as it works to manage flood risk amid continued coastal development pressure.
Charleston County has recorded 19,286 NFIP flood insurance claims since 1978, totaling $312.0M 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
71,957
Charleston County
Avg. Premium
$888/yr
Charleston County
NFIP Flood Insurance Claims: Charleston County
Properties in Charleston County have filed 19,286 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $312.0M in payouts since 1978. The average claim payout is $16K.
Highest-Claim Years
1989
9,499 claims - $181.2M
2015
2,111 claims - $27.9M
2017
1,578 claims - $39.3M
Claims by Flood Zone
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Claims API. Data sourced August 2026. See national claims data.
Flood Insurance Coverage: Charleston County
Only roughly 1 in 2 households in Charleston County carries NFIP flood insurance (45% of estimated households).
Penetration Rate
45%
roughly 1 in 2 households
Historical Claims Ratio
1 in 4
19,286 claims over 45+ years across 71,957 current policies
Avg. Claim Payout
$16,176
Per claim, county-wide since 1978
Historically, Charleston County has averaged 1 claim for every 4 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 Mount Pleasant.
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: Charleston County
Charleston County has 1,296 properties with multiple flood insurance losses, including 177 severe repetitive loss properties. 45 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
1,296
2+ claims within 10 years
Severe Repetitive Loss
177
4+ claims or 2 exceeding value
Mitigated
45
Received FEMA mitigation
By Flood Zone
Zone data available for 1,289 of 1,296 properties.
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Multiple Loss Properties. Data sourced August 2026.
Flood Insurance Discount: Mount Pleasant
Mount Pleasant 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). Mount Pleasant'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: Charleston County
Charleston County has been included in 17 federal flood-related disaster declarations.
...and 9 earlier declarations since 1989.
These declarations affected communities across Charleston County, including Mount Pleasant.
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries API. Data sourced August 2026.
Recorded Flood Events: Charleston County
NOAA has recorded 307 flood events in Charleston County since 1996, causing $20.2M in damage and 1 death.
Costliest Events
Events by Type
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, 1996-2026. Data sourced August 2026.
Flood Mitigation: Charleston County
FEMA has funded mitigation for 372 properties in Charleston County, investing $36.5M 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: Charleston 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: $44.2M
Coastal Flood Risk
Very HighEst. annual loss: $35.6M
Hurricane Risk
Very HighEst. annual loss: $281.3M
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county-level assessment. Individual property risk may vary.
What Your Flood Zone Means in Mount Pleasant
Mount Pleasant faces a combination of coastal and inland flood risks. Storm surge from hurricanes and tropical storms pushes seawater inland, while heavy rainfall simultaneously overwhelms rivers, bayous, and drainage infrastructure. This dual threat means flooding can come from multiple directions at once. The most common FEMA flood zone designations in Mount Pleasant are Zone AE, Zone VE, Zone X. FEMA's National Risk Index estimates the county's annual expected loss from inland flooding at over $44.2M. The county is rated "Very High" for coastal flood risk by FEMA's National Risk Index. Properties in Mount Pleasant's VE zones face additional wave action risk beyond still-water flooding, which typically results in higher insurance premiums and stricter building requirements.
Combined coastal and inland flood exposure in Mount Pleasant means properties may face higher premiums than areas with only one flood source. FEMA's Risk Rating 2.0 accounts for multiple flood sources, including coastal surge distance, river proximity, and rainfall-driven 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.
Flood maps in areas with combined coastal and inland risk are among the most complex in the FEMA system. Major storms often trigger FEMA restudies that can significantly shift zone boundaries. Letters of Map Revision (LOMR) after hurricanes may expand SFHA coverage as new storm data is incorporated. Use our free lookup tool to check the current flood zone for any Mount Pleasant address.
Mount Pleasant, SC Flood Zone FAQ
What flood zones are in Mount Pleasant, SC?
The most common FEMA flood zones in Mount Pleasant 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 Mount Pleasant?
If your Mount Pleasant 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 Mount Pleasant?
Enter your Mount Pleasant 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 Mount Pleasant offer flood insurance discounts?
Yes. Mount Pleasant 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 Mount Pleasant experienced major flooding events?
Charleston County, where Mount Pleasant is located, has been part of 17 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 Mount Pleasant?
Charleston County has recorded 19,286 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $312.0M in payouts since 1978. The year with the most claims was 1989, with 9,499 claims and $181.2M in payouts. These figures cover all NFIP claims in the county, including Mount Pleasant.
How many flood insurance policies are there in Mount Pleasant?
Charleston County had 71,957 NFIP flood insurance policies written or renewed over the trailing 13 months, with an average annual premium of $888. The most policies are in Zone AE (52,054 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 Mount Pleasant properties have flooded repeatedly?
Charleston County has 1,296 properties with multiple flood losses on record, including 177 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 Mount Pleasant 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 Mount Pleasant?
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 Mount Pleasant's Zone AE and Zone VE 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 Mount Pleasant, SC Address
Enter a Mount Pleasant, 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.