Beaufort County on South Carolina's sea islands coast including Hilton Head Island faces serious hurricane and storm surge exposure. Matthew caused significant surge flooding across the county's barrier islands and sea island communities in 2016. Hilton Head's resort community and retirement population creates complex evacuation logistics, with limited road connections off the island creating dangerous bottlenecks.
// Preparedness Recommendations
- Evacuation routes inland should be identified in advance.
- Store at least 72 hours of food and water.
- Elevate critical belongings above flood level.
- Have backup power ready in case of grid failure.
// Recommended Supplies
Essential gear for power outages, severe weather, and emergency situations in your area.
- Emergency Food Supplies
- Water Filtration & Storage
- Backup Generator
- Solar Backup Power
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// Risk Intelligence
| Threat Score | 8 / 10 High Risk |
| Primary Hazard | Hurricane / Storm Surge |
| Secondary Hazard | Flooding |
| FEMA Flood Zone | Zone AE (High Risk) |
| Federally Declared Disasters | 50 |
| Last Major Event | Hurricane Matthew (2016) |
| Event Frequency | Major event every 4–5 years |
// Emergency Operations
| Emergency Mgmt Phone | (843) 255-2100 |
| Emergency Shelters | 16 designated facilities |
| Evacuation Routes | US-278 West, US-21 North, I-95 North, SC-170 North |
// County Profile
| County | Beaufort County SC |
| State | South Carolina (SC) |
| Population | 196,889 |
| Area | 923 sq miles |
| FEMA Region | Zone AE (High Risk) |
// Major Cities
// Cities in This County
// Other South Carolina Counties
// Nearby Infrastructure Risks
Critical infrastructure facilities within or near this area that could affect civilian safety during emergencies, conflict, or infrastructure failures.
Infrastructure risk data is for emergency preparedness awareness. Facility locations are publicly known. Always follow official emergency guidance.