How Likely Is a Tornado in Horry County, SC?
How likely is a tornado in Horry County, SC?
Horry County has recorded 58 tornado touches in NOAA's 76-year database, a rate of roughly one every 1.3 years - our High band. Put another way: Horry County sees more tornado activity than 92% of US counties. Among 46 South Carolina counties in this dataset, Horry County ranks 3 for how often a tornado touches down.
Beyond the frequency band: violent history
48 weak and 10 significant tornadoes make up Horry County's 58-track record - none violent. NOAA has never logged an EF4 or EF5 crossing this county.
The dollar figure Horry County's rating leads to
Cost nationally: $2,890-$13,280, about $7,645 typical. South Carolina has no state rebate program confirmed here; FEMA's underlying 75% cost-share exists nationwide, but applying through a state program is what usually makes it real, and none was found for South Carolina this pass.
What a direct hit isn't required for
Power loss after a tornado outbreak in South Carolina often reaches homes the storm itself never touched. A battery-backup unit covers the outage without the fuel and venting a generator needs.
Wind damage may need its own endorsement
South Carolina is one of a handful of states where insurers can write wind/hail damage out of a standard homeowners policy - tornado damage may not be fully covered without a separate wind endorsement. Worth confirming directly on a Horry County policy rather than assuming it is included.
What this number is, and is not
One caveat before relying on Horry County's number: it is county-wide, and it covers about 1,133 square miles, so a single touch counts the same as one in a county a fraction of that size. Weaker pre-1990s tornadoes are also documented as undercounted in NOAA's own record. Horry County has about 413,391 residents.