Flood insurance • Myrtle Beach, South Carolina • 2026
Flood Insurance in Myrtle Beach, SC: Coverage for Storm Surge, Hurricanes, and Condos
Myrtle Beach faces storm surge on the oceanfront and flash flooding in low inland streets, and many owners have condos or second homes. Surge, hurricanes, and condos shape what Myrtle Beach property owners need.
This guide covers what drives flood risk in Myrtle Beach, how flood zones work, what the NFIP and private flood policies cover, and how to compare quotes on the same terms.
Blake Insurance Group is an independent agency based in Tucson that serves Myrtle Beach homeowners and renters by phone and online. We do not have an office in Myrtle Beach, and we compare National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and private flood options from the insurers we are appointed with for your exact address.
Get Myrtle Beach flood insurance quotes
Tell us your Myrtle Beach address, whether you own or rent, your flood zone if you know it, and the coverage you want, and a licensed agent will follow up with NFIP and private flood options available to us. Submitting the form does not bind coverage.
If the form does not load, call 888-387-3687, Monday through Friday, 9:00 to 5:00 Arizona time, or email info@blakeinsurancegroup.com.
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Get a flood quote from Neptune →Private flood insurance quotes online from Neptune Flood.
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Flood risk in Myrtle Beach: what drives it
The Grand Strand's flood risk comes from both the ocean and heavy rain.
Storm surge
Hurricanes and tropical storms can push seawater into coastal neighborhoods. Surge damage is flood damage, covered only by a flood policy.
Heavy rain and flash flooding
Slow-moving storms can drop many inches of rain, overwhelming drainage and flooding neighborhoods far from the coast.
Condos and second homes
Condo associations usually insure the building, but your unit's contents and improvements may need your own flood policy. Second homes can have different coverage terms.
Floods outside mapped zones
Heavy rain does not follow flood-map lines. Many flood claims come from homes in lower-risk zones, where flood insurance is optional and often costs less.
Myrtle Beach flood zones and maps
Floodplain maps in Myrtle Beach come from FEMA and are maintained locally by the City of Myrtle Beach and Horry County. Coastal areas can include V zones, where waves add to the risk, and A or AE zones along marshes, creeks, and rivers.
FEMA flood maps label higher-risk areas as Special Flood Hazard Areas, such as Zones A and AE, and lower-risk areas as Zones X, B, or C. If your building is in a high-risk zone and you have a federally backed mortgage, your lender will require flood insurance. Outside those zones, coverage is optional, but flood damage is still excluded from standard homeowners and renters policies.
You can look up an address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center. Maps show estimated risk, not a guarantee, and do not capture every street or wash that floods during a heavy storm.
Coverage priorities for Myrtle Beach homeowners and renters
| Your situation | Coverage to review | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Coastal home in an A or V zone | Building coverage close to replacement cost | Surge can reach the first floor. |
| Beach house or second home | Flood policy for a non-primary residence | Coverage terms can differ for second homes. |
| Renter | Contents-only flood policy | Renters policies exclude flood damage to your belongings. |
| Buying in a high-risk zone with a mortgage | Lender-required flood policy | Coverage must be in place by closing. |
Examples only, not recommendations. Coverage availability and terms vary by insurer.
South Carolina flood facts every Myrtle Beach property owner should know
- Wind and flood are covered separately. Your homeowners policy may cover hurricane wind damage, often with a separate hurricane deductible, but storm surge and rising water are flood damage and need a flood policy.
- Hurricane season runs June 1 through November 30. Hugo in 1989, Matthew in 2016, Florence in 2018, and Ian in 2022 all brought flooding to South Carolina, from coastal surge to river flooding inland.
- Inland flooding can be as damaging as surge. The October 2015 floods dropped record rain across the state, and rivers like the Waccamaw kept rising for days after Florence.
- Buy before a storm is named. NFIP policies usually take effect after 30 days, so coverage bought when a storm is forecast will not start in time.
- Lenders require flood insurance in high-risk zones. If your building is in a Special Flood Hazard Area, including coastal V zones, and your mortgage is federally backed, flood insurance is required.
- State and local floodplain help. The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources coordinates the NFIP in the state, and city and county floodplain managers can help you find your zone.
NFIP vs. private flood insurance: what to compare
Most flood policies come from the National Flood Insurance Program, run by FEMA, or from a private flood insurer. Line up each quote on the same terms before comparing price.
| Coverage | What to compare |
|---|---|
| Building coverage | Same limit. The NFIP pays up to $250,000 for a home's structure. Private flood insurers may offer higher limits. |
| Contents coverage | Same limit. The NFIP pays up to $100,000 for belongings, and renters can buy contents-only coverage. |
| Deductibles | Same deductibles. Building and contents deductibles are often separate. |
| Loss settlement | Whether the building is paid at replacement cost or actual cash value, and how contents are paid |
| Living expenses | The NFIP does not pay for a hotel or other extra living costs. Some private policies do. |
| Basements | The NFIP limits what it covers below ground level. Check what each policy pays for in a basement. |
| Waiting period | NFIP policies usually take effect after 30 days, with some exceptions, such as a loan closing. Private waiting periods vary. |
Myrtle Beach areas and ZIP codes we quote
We quote throughout Myrtle Beach, including neighborhoods along Ocean Boulevard and US-17, Market Common, Carolina Forest, and nearby North Myrtle Beach and Surfside Beach.
- 29572
- 29575
- 29577
- 29579
- 29588
Flood insurance is priced by the exact address, including its flood risk, the building's elevation and foundation, its replacement cost, and the coverage and deductibles you choose. Have your address and, if you have one, your elevation certificate ready.
Ways to lower your Myrtle Beach flood premium
- Compare NFIP and private quotes. Since FEMA's Risk Rating 2.0, NFIP prices reflect each property's own risk, and a private quote can come in higher or lower for the same home.
- Choose a higher deductible if you can afford it after a loss.
- Get an elevation certificate. It can help, especially for buildings in high-risk zones.
- Reduce the damage a flood can do. Raising utilities, adding flood openings, or elevating the building can lower the price over time.
- Ask about community discounts. Communities in FEMA's Community Rating System can earn NFIP discounts for their residents.
Discounts and pricing factors vary by insurer and program.
Closing on a home? If your lender requires flood insurance, tell us your closing date. NFIP policies tied to a loan closing can start without the usual 30-day wait. Call 888-387-3687.
Myrtle Beach flood insurance FAQs
Is storm surge covered?
Only by a flood policy. Storm surge is flood damage, which homeowners and renters policies exclude, even when a hurricane causes it.
Can I insure a beach house or rental property against flood?
Yes. NFIP and private flood policies are available for second homes and rental properties, though some coverage terms differ from a primary residence. Ask us how each policy treats the property.
Does my condo association's flood policy cover my unit?
Usually it covers the building, not your belongings or all of your improvements. A contents flood policy, or a unit owner policy, can cover what the association's policy does not.
Does homeowners insurance cover hurricane flooding in Myrtle Beach?
No. Homeowners policies may cover hurricane wind damage, but storm surge and rising water are flood damage, which standard homeowners and renters policies exclude. Flood damage needs a separate flood policy.
Do I need flood insurance in Myrtle Beach if I am not in a flood zone?
It is usually not required outside high-risk zones, but heavy rain and tropical storms flood homes in lower-risk areas too. Flood policies in lower-risk zones often cost less.
Can I buy flood insurance when a hurricane is coming?
You can buy it, but NFIP policies usually take effect 30 days after purchase, so it will not cover an approaching storm. Some private flood policies have shorter waiting periods. Buy well before hurricane season.
Nearby areas and related guides
Important information
Independent agency. Blake Insurance Group LLC is an independent insurance agency. Licensed insurance producer NPN 16944666. Licensed states: AZ, AL, TX, CA, NY, OH, FL, NC, VA, GA, OK, NM, IA, KS, MI, NE, SC, SD, WV, IL, NJ, PA, TN, and WA. Which insurance companies we can quote depends on our current appointments, the product, and your state.
Availability. Coverage, prices, discounts, waiting periods, and eligibility vary by insurer, program, and property, and are subject to underwriting. The issued policy controls. This page is general information, not legal advice. Flood zone information is general; check the official map for your address.
Service area. Blake Insurance Group is based in Tucson and serves Myrtle Beach clients by phone and online. We do not claim a physical office in Myrtle Beach.
Your next step
Request a quote, and a licensed agent will compare NFIP and private flood options available to us for your Myrtle Beach address.
