Barrier islands responsible for most federal flood insurance payouts

BY TONY BARTELME

In a recent interview with the Watchdog team, a consultant with Kiawah Development Partners pointed out that Kiawah homeowners had sought only $208 in federal flood insurance claims since 1978. He argued that this showed Kiawah was a relatively stable barrier island.

Watchdog checked FEMA's flood insurance statistics, and the consultant is correct. Kiawah, unlike most other barrier islands, has made few federal claims during the past three decades. Of course, just two miles to the north on Folly Beach, homeowners have sought $14.7 million during the past three decades.

Indeed, for the past three decades, Folly Beach has been a flood insurance dividing line.

North of that line, homeowners claimed $407 million of the state's $426 million in claims, about 95 percent.

South of the line, Kiawah had $208 and Seabrook had $42,869 in claims. These areas also were on the lucky side of Hugo, which did relatively little damage south of Folly.

Kiawah's consultant made his argument about Kiawah's stability after U.S. Rep. Henry Brown introduced a bill to make undeveloped land on the southwestern tip of Kiawah eligible for federal flood insurance. Kiawah Development Partners wants to build homes on the land. Brown killed the bill last week after a public outcry.

With all the tropical storms brewing out in the Atlantic, Watchdog thought it timely to look at what kinds of losses the federally subsidized flood insurance program suffered on the coast of South Carolina.

Georgetown County, which has been hit by Hugo, Floyd, Charlie, Gaston and several other smaller storms, had the most with $72 million. Here's the list:

BEAUFORT COUNTY $3,206,204.53

BEAUFORT $256,835.75

BERKELEY COUNTY $293,919.37

BLUFFTON $16,293.19

CHARLESTON COUNTY $26,481,350.42

CHARLESTON $51,706,953.15

CONWAY $2,421,150.22

DORCHESTER COUNTY $369,698.88

EDISTO BEACH $1,149,538.52

FOLLY BEACH $14,711,925.67

GEORGETOWN COUNTY $72,348,918.03

GEORGETOWN $3,023,474.85

HILTON HEAD $2,212,899.90

HORRY COUNTY $51,858,450.35

ISLE OF PALMS $61,751,995.22

KIAWAH $280.00

MCCLELLANVILLE $2,063,285.57

MOUNT PLEASANT $13,251,570.02

MYRTLE BEACH $33,487,353.16

NORTH CHARLESTON $1,157,617.96

NORTH MYRTLE BEACH $37,015,827.99

PAWLEYS ISLAND $729,260.50

SEABROOK $42,869.96

SULLIVAN'S ISLAND $20,045,394.98

SUMMERVILLE $19,791.20

SURFSIDE $14,263,705.52