Pickens County, SC Environment & Hazard Risk
Relatively Low natural hazard risk, led by ice storm. 483 storm events since 1996.
- Expected yearly loss
- $37.05M
- Relatively Low nationally
- Storm events since 1996
- 483
- Most often thunderstorm wind
- Flood insurance policies
- 128
- 0.3% of homes
- Hurricanes nearby
- 0
- 5 tropical storms or stronger since 1901
Natural hazard risk
FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025
Overall risk
Relatively Low
Score 77.6 of 100
Social vulnerability
Relatively Moderate
Score 41.0 of 100
Community resilience
Relatively Moderate
Score 45.3 of 100
Community resilience runs the other way: a higher rating means a community can recover faster.
Building value exposed: $27.67B · Agriculture value exposed: $8.55M · Risk-adjusted yearly loss: $39.47M
Risk by hazard
- Ice stormRelatively High$1.38M/yr expected annual loss, about 1.7 events a year
- LightningRelatively High$1.03M/yr expected annual loss, about 62 events a year
- EarthquakeRelatively Low$2.25M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 391 years
- Cold waveRelatively Moderate$4.35M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 3 years
- Strong windRelatively Moderate$1.28M/yr expected annual loss, about 2.0 events a year
- LandslideRelatively Low$14.67K/yr expected annual loss, about 1.2 events a year
- HurricaneRelatively Low$615K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 25 years
- HailRelatively Low$470K/yr expected annual loss, about 4.5 events a year
- Heat waveRelatively Low$587K/yr expected annual loss, about 1.2 events a year
- TornadoRelatively Low$1.46M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 4 years
- WildfireVery Low$49.25K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 1,462 years
- DroughtRelatively Low$54.02K/yr expected annual loss, about 41 events a year
- Winter weatherVery Low$17.64K/yr expected annual loss, about 4.8 events a year
Bars show the national percentile score (0 to 100) for each hazard. Dollar figures are expected annual losses to buildings, people and crops. Not rated here: avalanche, coastal flooding, riverine flooding, tsunami, volcanic activity.
Flood risk and insurance
National Flood Insurance Program and FEMA flood maps
Check the flood zone for an address
- Homes with flood insurance
- 128 of 48,190 (0.3%)
- Homes in high-risk flood zones
- 182
- Insured in high-risk zones
- 50 (27%)
- Flood claims since 1978
- 63
- Claims paid since 1978
- $1.66M
Flood claims paid per year
- Hurricane Helene$1.04M · 13 claims
- Hurricane Cindy$74.34K · 3 claims
- Hurricane Hugo$58.89K · 5 claims
- October severe storms$0 · 3 claims
Storm history
Since 1996: 483 events, 4 deaths, $10.35M in damage
- Thunderstorm Wind250 · 2 deaths
- Hail138
- Flash Flood31 · 2 deaths
- Tornado23
- Heavy Rain8
- Cold/Wind Chill8
- Flood7
- Lightning6
- Drought4
- Winter Storm2
Events per year
35 tornadoes on record (EF0 9, EF1 3, EF2 4, F0 2, F1 14, F2 3).
Most damaging storms
Since 1996, ranked by deaths, injuries and damage
- Thunderstorm Wind50 kt wind07/18/2019
Eastatoe, Pickens County
2 deaths, 2 injured, $50K damage
What happened
County comms reported strong thunderstorm winds caused a home under construction to collapse on Waterlake Dr, killing two workers, and injuring two others. Several trees and power lines were also blown down in the vicinity.
- TornadoF1, 0.1 mi path, 20 yd wide01/05/2007
Liberty, Pickens County
15 injured, $50K damage
What happened
This tornado touched down very briefly in the parking lot of the Liberty Elementary School. Nine vehicles were severely damaged. At least 4 vehicles were lifted off the ground or flipped over by the wind. Some of the vehicles were occupied by parents awaiting school dismissal. Fifteen people received mostly minor injuries, with 5 being transported to the hospital. A shed was also blown over.
- Flash Flood01/08/1998
Pickens, Pickens County
1 death, 3 injured, $50K damage
What happened
Excessive rain fell just north of Pickens causing raging water flowing into a lake to wash out a road. Two cars drove into this washout around 2300 EST and then were swept into the lake, killing one young man and injuring three other people.
- Flash Flood08/07/2013
Cateechee, Pickens County
1 death, $50K damage
What happened
A car was swept away by flood waters on Silver Creek Road. The car and it's occupant, a 23 year old male, were found separately downstream. The occupant was killed and the car destroyed. Two other cars were swept away at this location with 4 passengers rescued.
- TornadoEF2, 5.3 mi path, 200 yd wide04/13/2020
Pumpkintown, Pickens County
8 injured, $200K damage
What happened
NWS Storm Survey determined the path of a tornado that began in northern Pickens County near the intersection of Highway 8 and Log House Rd. Numerous trees were uprooted and large trees snapped as the tornado moved northeast, crossing Dacusville Highway, Cedar Rd, and the Oolenoy River. From there, it moved roughly parallel to Highway 288 before crossing into Greenville County. The most significant damage was found along the banks of the Saluda River, including along Yankee Rebel Pt and Sherwood Rd, where two mobile homes were rolled and several large hardwood trees snapped. A total of eight people were injured in this area.
- TornadoF2, 1.5 mi path, 35 yd wide01/08/1998
Easley, Pickens County
4 injured, $3M damage
What happened
A tornado developed from a fast moving severe thunderstorm that raced north out of eastern Georgia. The F2 tornado destroyed several houses and mobile homes and severely damaged many other homes and businesses. Damage was sustained to the south of the track of the tornado due to strong inflow into the storm. Damage from severe thunderstorm winds in the rear flank downdraft occurred north into Easley.
Latest storm reports
Newest first
- Thunderstorm Wind50 kt wind07/02/2026
Liberty, Pickens County
$5,000 damage
- Thunderstorm Wind50 kt wind06/29/2026
Arial, Pickens County
- Thunderstorm Wind50 kt wind06/27/2026
Liberty, Pickens County
- Thunderstorm Wind50 kt wind06/14/2026
Pickens, Pickens County
- Drought05/01/2026
Pickens Mountains
- Drought05/01/2026
Greater Pickens
- Drought04/01/2026
Greater Pickens
- Drought04/01/2026
Pickens Mountains
Hurricanes and tropical storms
Storms whose track crossed Pickens County, with the wind when it passed
- Unnamed storm (1916)07/11/1916 · Landfall: SC · 960 mbTropical storm52 mph nearby
- Unnamed storm (1907)09/18/1907 · Landfall: MSTropical storm40 mph nearby
- Unnamed storm (1906)09/03/1906 · Landfall: SC · 977 mbTropical storm46 mph nearby
- Unnamed storm (1902)10/03/1902 · Landfall: FL · 970 mbTropical storm40 mph nearby
- Unnamed storm (1901)09/21/1901 · Landfall: FLTropical storm40 mph nearby
Drinking water
20 community water systems serve about 126,723 people. Violations since 2021.
2 systems had health-based violations, such as a contaminant over the legal limit or a missed treatment step. 4 systems had a violation of any kind still open at last report.
- Easley Combined Util (Sc3910002)Serves 36,098 · Surface water · Local governmentNo health violations
- Clemson City of (Sc3910004)Serves 17,896 · Purchased surface water · Local governmentNo health violations+1 monitoring or reporting
- Six Mile W/D (Sc3920002)Serves 14,845 · Purchased surface water · Local governmentNo health violations+3 monitoring or reporting
- Pickens Water Treatment Plant Sc3910001Serves 10,263 · Surface water · Local government1 health violation
- Southside W/D (3920010)Serves 9,568 · Purchased surface water · Local governmentNo health violations+3 monitoring or reporting
- Dacusville-Cedar Rock Wt Co (Sc3920008)Serves 8,700 · Purchased surface water · Local governmentNo health violations
- Clemson University (Sc3910006)Serves 8,320 · Purchased surface water · StateNo health violations
- Bethlehem-Roanoke W/D (Sc3920003)Serves 6,334 · Purchased surface water · Local governmentNo health violations
Largest systems by population served. Monitoring and reporting violations mean required tests or notices were late or missing, not that the water was unsafe.
Climate
1991-2020 normals at Pickens, 2.5 mi from the county center
Summer highs peak around 90°F in Jul and winter lows bottom out near 30°F in Jan. About 56.7 inches of rain falls in a typical year, with 1.0 inches of snow.
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 53°F | 30°F | 5.24 in | 0.4 in |
| Feb | 56°F | 33°F | 4.54 in | 0.2 in |
| Mar | 64°F | 39°F | 4.92 in | - |
| Apr | 73°F | 47°F | 4.68 in | - |
| May | 80°F | 57°F | 3.98 in | - |
| Jun | 86°F | 65°F | 5.02 in | - |
| Jul | 90°F | 69°F | 4.75 in | - |
| Aug | 88°F | 68°F | 5.07 in | - |
| Sep | 83°F | 62°F | 4.54 in | - |
| Oct | 73°F | 49°F | 4.06 in | - |
| Nov | 63°F | 38°F | 4.20 in | - |
| Dec | 55°F | 33°F | 5.67 in | 0.4 in |
| Year | 61°F average | 56.7 in | 1.0 in | |
Pollution sites
1 Superfund site and 10 toxic release facilities in Pickens County
Superfund sites
Toxic release facilities
- Basf Corporation/Clemson Site59,935 lbs released, Central
- Milliken & Co-Pendleton Finishing Plant44,726 lbs released, Pendleton
- Ortec Inc27,052 lbs released, Easley
- Reliable Automatic Sprinkler Co25,659 lbs released, Liberty
- Wilbert Plastic Services19,539 lbs released, Easley
- Imperial Die Casting13,835 lbs released, Liberty
- Cornell Dubilier Marketing Inc.10,040 lbs released, Liberty
- Palmetto Plating Co Inc390 lbs released, Easley
- St Jude Medical Cardiology Div. Inc.5.5 lbs released, Liberty
- Danfoss Power Solutions (Us) Co0 lbs released, Easley
Total: 201,182 lbs in 2024, 21,666 lbs to air.
Superfund sitesToxic release facilitiesEPA inspections and enforcementAir toxics cancer risk18 historic places
Frequently asked questions
- How risky is Pickens County for natural disasters?
- FEMA rates Pickens County relatively low for overall natural hazard risk, with expected losses of $37.05M a year. The highest-rated hazards are ice storm (relatively high), lightning (relatively high), earthquake (relatively low).
- What storms are most common in Pickens County?
- Since 1996, NOAA recorded 483 storm events affecting Pickens County, most often thunderstorm wind (250), hail (138), flash flood (31).
- How many tornadoes have hit Pickens County?
- 35 tornadoes have been recorded in Pickens County since 1950.
- How many homes in Pickens County have flood insurance?
- 128 residential flood insurance policies are in force in Pickens County, covering about 0.3% of homes. The program has paid $1.66M on 63 claims here since 1978.
- What is the weather like in Pickens County?
- At Pickens, average highs reach 90°F in Jul and lows fall to 30°F in Jan, with 56.7 inches of rain a year (1991-2020 normals).
Source: FEMA (National Risk Index, NFIP), NOAA (Storm Events, HURDAT2, Climate Normals), EPA · Last updated 08/01/2026 · Storm counts include events in forecast zones that touch the county. This product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA.