Horry County Homeowners Can Now Buy Federal Flood Insurance Online

New FEMA tool on FloodSmart.gov lets homeowners, renters and business owners go from quote to policy in minutes, with no agent required.

Residents of Horry and Georgetown counties can now buy federal flood insurance online, including the option to purchase Federal Flood Insurance Online without picking up the phone.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency said Tuesday it has launched a self-service option on FloodSmart.gov that lets consumers buy a National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) policy completely online. The tool works nationwide. The online purchase option is open to anyone living in one of the roughly 22,700 communities that take part in the NFIP.

This service is particularly beneficial for those who prefer the convenience of Federal Flood Insurance Online, ensuring they can secure their coverage quickly and easily.

Exploring Federal Flood Insurance Online Options

What’s new

The purchase option builds on an existing tool. FEMA launched a direct-to-consumer quoting tool on FloodSmart.gov in late 2024. That first version gave consumers a price, but it pointed them to local and national carrier information to complete the purchase. leretafema

The process now works like this:

1. Get a quote. Enter basic information about your building at floodsmart.gov/policy-quote.
2. Choose how to buy. Buy the policy online in a few minutes, or go through an insurance agent.
3. Using an agent? Share your quote details with your own agent. If you don’t have one, FloodSmart.gov will list contact information for three licensed state insurance agents.

FEMA said the change follows the insurance industry’s shift toward digital sales and is meant to bring more people into the flood insurance market.

What FEMA is saying

“I’ve seen firsthand how floodwaters devastate American communities,” said FEMA Administrator Cameron Hamilton. “We are making it easier for people to reduce their financial risk and protect what they’ve spent their lives building. With this new digital tool, you can get a quote and buy a flood insurance policy in a matter of minutes.”

Hamilton took over the agency in August. The Senate confirmed him as FEMA’s first administrator since President Trump took office.

FEMA presented the tool as part of the administration’s America First Resilience Strategy. The agency describes that strategy as a push for individuals to protect themselves and their property and to rely less on federal disaster assistance.

Why it matters here

FEMA calls floods the most common and costliest natural disaster in the country. In South Carolina, the agency says the NFIP covers about 186,500 policyholders, with roughly $51.9 billion in total coverage.

Local residents should know two things before relying on the new tool:

• Coverage isn’t immediate. FEMA warns there is a 30-day waiting period before an NFIP policy takes effect. Buying a policy when a storm is already in the forecast generally won’t protect you from that storm. floodsmart
• Your homeowners policy probably doesn’t cover floods. FEMA notes most homeowners insurance excludes flood damage, so flood coverage requires a separate policy that can cover the building, its contents, or both. fema

How to get started

Get a quote or buy a policy at floodsmart.gov/policy-quote. For help finding a provider, the NFIP can be reached at (877) 336-2627.

Sources

Federal Flood Insurance Online – FEMA press release, “Digital Self-Service Option Makes It Easier for South Carolinians to Financially Prepare for Floods” (Atlanta, Oct. 2026)

Federal Flood Insurance Online – FEMA: Flood Insurance / NFIP overview

Federal Flood Insurance Online – FEMA: Launch of Direct to Customer Flood Insurance Quoting Tool

Federal Flood Insurance Online – FEMA fact sheet: Simplified Flood Insurance Quotes From the NFIP (July 2025)

Federal Flood Insurance Online – States Newsroom: US Senate confirms FEMA administrator (Aug. 7, 2026)