Building-level geo-hazards assessment for Charleston county, South Carolina

Charleston County, South Carolina, is home to more than 400,000 residents and is exposed to coastal erosion, sea-level rise, flooding, hurricanes, earthquake shaking, and ground instability. These hazards threaten a rapidly expanding built environment that includes historic structures dating to the eighteenth century. This study integrates parcel-level building data with environmental hazard measures to develop a Total Hazards Assessment for every building in Charleston County. The resulting geospatial index and map identify the relative susceptibility of structures to hazard-induced degradation and provide a countywide basis for comparing risk. Approximately one-third of assessed structures exhibit high or very high susceptibility. The assessment offers city planners, emergency managers, and other decision-makers an evidence-based resource for identifying priority areas, targeting mitigation investments, and strengthening preparedness and recovery planning. By translating multiple hazard datasets into a building-level cartographic product, the study supports more strategic management of both chronic and catastrophic risks across Charleston County.