Is Bamberg County, SC in a flood zone?
FEMA's National Risk Index puts Bamberg County's flood hazard at the 20.6th percentile nationally — among the lowest flood hazard in the country — driven by inland rivers and flash flooding rather than the coast — FEMA's model puts a flood event here at about once every 4 years. This describes the county, not any one street — FEMA only publishes exact parcel zones through a live map service.
Who actually carries the flood insurance FEMA requires
Out of 100 homes FEMA counts inside Bamberg County's mapped flood zone, 17 carry the flood policy federal law requires there — 17% compliance, short of full coverage. Across all residential structures in Bamberg County, not just the ones FEMA mandates, 0.5% carry an NFIP policy — most flood damage nationally happens outside the mapped high-risk zone, so that broader number matters too.
Where Bamberg County ranks
Bamberg County sits at rank 2537 of 3144 counties on FEMA's flood hazard scale (1 is worst) and rank 2226 of 3144 by population (1 is biggest). Bamberg County, South Carolina is home to about 12,870 people across 393.367 square miles of land.
Your street may differ from Bamberg County's average
FEMA counts 4,727 residential structures in Bamberg County overall, 23 of them carrying some form of NFIP coverage — but a lender or insurer cares about one parcel, not that county total.
More on how this number was built
The methodology guide shows exactly which FEMA and Census tables feed Bamberg County's numbers. The guide to what the Special Flood Hazard Area actually means explains why the mandatory-insurance rule exists and who it applies to.