FEMA Designates Additional 18K South Carolina Properties in Flood Zone

Thousands of property owners in Horry County are being told they will be required to buy flood insurance.

Local media outlets report that the Federal Emergency Management Agency has updated flood plain maps and now an additional 18,000 properties in the county are in flood zones.

Homeowners with mortgages will be required to buy flood insurance although people who own their homes outright have the option to decline coverage. Most of the properties added to flood zones are in the Conway and Bucksport areas.

Previously, there were about 65,000 properties in flood zones in the county.

County and FEMA officials are holding public meetings this week to discuss the new maps.