Homeowners Insurance & Natural Hazard Costs in Conway
Conway's real, distinct hazard is Waccamaw RIVER flooding -- not direct coastal storm surge -- documented, severe, and repeated: Hurricane Florence's 2018 record crest at Conway (21.16 feet) broke Hurricane Matthew's 2016 record (17.9 feet) by more than 3 feet, flooding nearly 1,000 homes and businesses near the river.
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Learn moreA real, escalating, repeated river-flood pattern -- genuinely distinct from storm surge
Conway sits on the Waccamaw River, roughly 15 miles inland of the beach -- meaning it faces zero direct coastal storm-surge exposure, but real, documented, and escalating river-flood risk instead. The river crested at a record 21.16 feet during Hurricane Florence (2018), breaking the prior record set by Hurricane Matthew (2016) of 17.9 feet by more than 3 feet -- a genuine, worsening pattern across two separate hurricane events, not a one-time anomaly.
Real, documented damage and duration
Nearly 1,000 homes and businesses near the river were flooded during Florence, some severely -- homes in the Polo Farms neighborhood flooded five feet deep when the river backed up Simpsons Creek. Horry County Emergency Management reported 361 homes damaged in Conway itself and 1,580 in the rural portion of the county, with $49 million in estimated residential damage. The river stayed above flood stage for 29 days -- a real, extended-duration event.
Homeowners insurance reflects this real river-flood risk
Conway's average annual homeowners premium is cited at $4,275/year -- above the $2,974-$3,100/year SC statewide-average range and well above inland, non-Horry Columbia's $2,610/year comparator, despite Conway's inland-of-the-beach position. This directly reflects Conway's real river-flood risk rather than direct coastal wind exposure.
Separate flood insurance is a real, practical necessity for river-adjacent properties
Given this documented history, any property near the Waccamaw River should carry separate NFIP flood coverage -- standard homeowners policies do not cover flood damage. Confirm a specific property's FEMA flood-zone designation directly before purchase.
Key takeaways
- Conway's real, distinct hazard is Waccamaw RIVER flooding -- genuinely different from coastal storm surge, though both are hurricane-driven.
- The river crested at a record 21.16 feet during Hurricane Florence (2018), breaking Hurricane Matthew's 2016 record (17.9 feet) by more than 3 feet -- a real, escalating, repeated pattern.
- Nearly 1,000 homes/businesses were flooded near the river during Florence, with $49 million in estimated residential damage and 29 days above flood stage.
- Homeowners insurance runs genuinely elevated ($4,275/year) despite Conway's inland position -- confirm a specific property's flood-zone status and carry separate NFIP flood coverage.
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