FEMADR-4542-SCMajor disasterDeclared May 1, 2020
DR-4542-SC: South Carolina Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Straight-Line Winds
FEMA made a major disaster declaration for South Carolina (DR-4542-SC) on May 1, 2020 for the incident of April 12, 2020 to April 13, 2020; it covers 10 designated areas. FEMA had approved $5.6 million for 1,089 households through the Individuals and Households Program (as of October 1, 2026) and obligated $20.8 million in Public Assistance (as of August 18, 2026).
The declaration
- Declaration
- DR-4542-SC (also written FEMA-4542-DR)
- Type
- Major disaster declaration
- State
- South Carolina
- Incident
- Severe Storm: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Straight-Line Winds
- Incident period
- April 12, 2020 to April 13, 2020
- Declared
- May 1, 2020
- Programs declared
- Individuals and Households, Public Assistance, Hazard Mitigation
- FEMA region
- 4
- Place in the year
- the third of 3 major disaster declarations for South Carolina in 2020
- Status
- open (not yet closed out by FEMA)
- Registration deadline (individual help)
- June 30, 2020
Source: FEMA, OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2). Data as of September 29, 2026.
Which areas are covered, and for what?
| Designated area | Individuals and Households | Public Assistance | Hazard Mitigation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aiken (County) | Yes | — | Yes |
| Barnwell (County) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Berkeley (County) | Yes | — | Yes |
| Colleton (County) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Georgetown (County) | — | Yes | Yes |
| Hampton (County) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Marlboro (County) | Yes | — | Yes |
| Oconee (County) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Orangeburg (County) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Pickens (County) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
An area can be added to a declaration after the first day, or have a program added: this table is FEMA's current list.
Source: FEMA, OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2). Data as of September 29, 2026.
How much has FEMA approved?
1,089households approved for help (IHP)
$5.6 millionIndividuals and Households Program approved
$5.0 millionof it for housing
$618,206of it for other needs
$20.8 millionPublic Assistance obligated
$3.3 millionHazard Mitigation Grant Program obligated
Individual assistance figures as of October 1, 2026, public assistance as of August 18, 2026. FEMA updates both as applications are decided.
Source: FEMA, OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2); FEMA, OpenFEMA FEMA Web Disaster Summaries (v1). Data as of September 29, 2026.
Source: FEMA, OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2). Data as of September 29, 2026.
FEMA's page for this declaration
FEMA's own page for this declaration is fema.gov/disaster/4542. AreaZine is not FEMA and cannot answer questions about an application. Registration for individual help closed on June 30, 2020.