Flood zones, flood insurance and FEMA help, in plain English

Georgia flood insurance and flood history

From FEMA's flood insurance and disaster data · Updated 2026-10-08

24,479NFIP flood claims since 1978
$520.4 millionPaid on those claims
$38,145Average paid claimlast 10 years
1.6%Homes with NFIP flood insurance
$990Typical yearly NFIP costsingle-family home
6Flood disaster declarationssince 2000

FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) data lists 24,479 flood insurance claims in Georgia since 1978. The NFIP paid $520.4 million on them (building, contents and Increased Cost of Compliance payments, in the dollars of the year paid).

The year with the most claims was 2009, with 2,985, mostly from Late summer storms.

In the last ten years (2017–2026) there were 6,028 claims, and the average paid claim was $38,145.

35% of the claims with a recorded flood zone came from buildings outside FEMA's high-risk zones (rated zones B, C and X).

About 1.6% of homes in Georgia had an NFIP flood policy in FEMA's latest count (58,557 of 3,659,988 residential buildings). In the high-risk flood zones (Special Flood Hazard Areas), it was 43% (31,313 of 72,253).

Since 2000, FEMA has made 6 flood-related disaster declarations covering parts of Georgia. The most recent was DR-4738-GA (Hurricane Idalia), declared September 7, 2023.

Flood insurance claims in Georgia by year

NFIP flood claims per year in Georgia, 1978 to 202601.2k2.5k3.8k5k1978: 80 claims, $126,047 paid1979: 636 claims, $3.2 million paid1980: 230 claims, $738,941 paid19801981: 71 claims, $189,663 paid1982: 371 claims, $1.9 million paid1983: 159 claims, $548,049 paid1984: 119 claims, $313,367 paid1985: 89 claims, $789,598 paid1986: 50 claims, $254,161 paid1987: 100 claims, $230,596 paid1988: 24 claims, $93,383 paid1989: 160 claims, $808,540 paid1990: 633 claims, $9.7 million paid19901991: 253 claims, $2.5 million paid1992: 225 claims, $1.2 million paid1993: 92 claims, $271,165 paid1994: 2,093 claims, $47.9 million paid1995: 444 claims, $3.1 million paid1996: 632 claims, $6.8 million paid1997: 174 claims, $859,664 paid1998: 1,349 claims, $16.5 million paid1999: 1,261 claims, $17.5 million paid2000: 143 claims, $1.1 million paid20002001: 95 claims, $1.1 million paid2002: 168 claims, $1.4 million paid2003: 477 claims, $4.4 million paid2004: 997 claims, $28.6 million paid2005: 912 claims, $13.8 million paid2006: 77 claims, $943,524 paid2007: 98 claims, $630,972 paid2008: 124 claims, $636,103 paid2009: 2,985 claims, $134.5 million paid2010: 233 claims, $2.2 million paid20102011: 98 claims, $479,240 paid2012: 173 claims, $3.3 million paid2013: 498 claims, $6.3 million paid2014: 159 claims, $1.5 million paid2015: 661 claims, $11.1 million paid2016: 1,308 claims, $22.5 million paid2017: 2,413 claims, $69.6 million paid2018: 295 claims, $5.6 million paid2019: 194 claims, $3.1 million paid2020: 778 claims, $20.2 million paid20202021: 410 claims, $7.6 million paid2022: 186 claims, $3.6 million paid2023: 242 claims, $6.7 million paid2024: 1,268 claims, $49.7 million paid2025: 156 claims, $2.9 million paid2026: 86 claims, $1.0 million paid
NFIP claims per year by year of loss. Hover or tap a bar for the count and amount paid. 2026 is partial.
Show as a table
YearClaimsPaid
202686$1.0 million
2025156$2.9 million
20241,268$49.7 million
2023242$6.7 million
2022186$3.6 million
2021410$7.6 million
2020778$20.2 million
2019194$3.1 million
2018295$5.6 million
20172,413$69.6 million
20161,308$22.5 million
2015661$11.1 million
2014159$1.5 million
2013498$6.3 million
2012173$3.3 million
201198$479,240
2010233$2.2 million
20092,985$134.5 million
2008124$636,103
200798$630,972
200677$943,524
2005912$13.8 million
2004997$28.6 million
2003477$4.4 million
2002168$1.4 million
200195$1.1 million
2000143$1.1 million
19991,261$17.5 million
19981,349$16.5 million
1997174$859,664
1996632$6.8 million
1995444$3.1 million
19942,093$47.9 million
199392$271,165
1992225$1.2 million
1991253$2.5 million
1990633$9.7 million
1989160$808,540
198824$93,383
1987100$230,596
198650$254,161
198589$789,598
1984119$313,367
1983159$548,049
1982371$1.9 million
198171$189,663
1980230$738,941
1979636$3.2 million
197880$126,047

Biggest flood events by NFIP payments

The flood events FEMA's claims data names most often for Georgia, ranked by what the NFIP paid. FEMA names events in its claims records; claims without an event name aren't included here.

EventYearClaimsPaid
Late summer storms20092,363$124.6 million
Hurricane Irma20172,099$65.6 million
Tropical Storm Alberto1994987$36.7 million
Hurricane Helene2024670$31.5 million
Tropical Storm Ivan2004862$27.8 million
Hurricane Matthew20161,114$21.2 million
Flooding19991,158$17.2 million
Flooding19981,025$14.5 million
Early winter storms2015441$9.7 million
Flooding1994778$8.3 million

What flood insurance costs in Georgia

On June 30, 2026, 69,940 NFIP flood insurance policies were in force in Georgia. For the 54,327 single-family homes among them, the typical (median) yearly cost was about $990; the average was $1,120.

Rated flood zonePoliciesTypical yearly cost, single-family homeAverage costAverage building coverage
High-risk zones (A and V)38,198$1,110$1,330$223,000
Moderate- and low-risk zones (B, C and X)31,739$840$890$235,000

Cost here is what FEMA's data lists as the policy cost: the premium plus the reserve fund assessment, federal policy fee and HFIAA surcharge. It covers single-family homes only (not condos, apartments or businesses), with costs rounded to the nearest $10 and shown only where at least 20 homes back the figure. Your own price depends on your building and the coverage you choose; see how flood insurance is priced. Private flood insurance isn't included.

Policies and average cost by exact flood zone
Rated zonePoliciesAverage cost, single-family home
AE32,202$1,350
X31,633$890
A5,498$1,240
VE256$2,270
AO218$2,040
B86$1,000
C20n/a
AH9n/a
A087n/a
D3n/a
A032n/a
A012n/a
A041n/a
A111n/a
A161n/a

Flood history by county

Every Georgia county in FEMA's data, sorted by number of NFIP claims since 1978. "Insured" is the share of homes with an NFIP policy; "typical NFIP cost" is the median yearly cost for single-family homes.

CountyClaimsPaidInsuredTypical NFIP costFlood declarations
Chatham County5,467$82.5 million20.6%$1,0100
Fulton County3,100$95.8 million0.8%$8901
Cobb County2,031$66.9 million1.0%$8901
DeKalb County1,998$29.2 million1.1%$9401
Glynn County1,996$43.5 million31.1%$1,0601
Dougherty County1,255$28.4 million2.7%$1,0602
Lee County700$16.7 million1.9%$1,1901
Richmond County574$5.2 million0.9%$7600
Gwinnett County487$10.4 million0.4%$8601
Floyd County382$3.4 million0.6%$1,1401
Camden County346$6.3 million14.9%$9402
Catoosa County324$5.6 million0.9%$1,0402
Clayton County286$3.3 million0.4%$9900
Bryan County285$5.8 million20.9%$1,0900
Muscogee County243$2.3 million0.8%$8601
Douglas County215$7.2 million0.4%$6902
Decatur County204$4.8 million1.5%$1,2902
Gilmer County199$5.2 million1.2%$1,6901
Bulloch County183$4.9 million1.7%$8902
Liberty County174$2.9 million6.7%$9400
Columbia County164$2.1 million0.9%$8400
Fayette County163$1.9 million1.1%$7101
Houston County162$1.9 million0.7%$6901
Bibb County155$3.8 million0.4%$7900
Polk County143$981,2130.6%$1,2601
Lowndes County135$5.0 million0.8%$7103
Walker County135$3.6 million0.5%$1,0602
Mitchell County100$2.1 million1.5%$1,0401
Whitfield County93$5.2 million0.4%$1,0900
Fannin County92$850,3971.7%$1,6901
Tift County90$3.6 million0.8%$8102
Seminole County80$1.7 million2.2%$1,2101
Henry County78$1.2 million0.4%$8100
Effingham County77$1.1 million3.0%$7900
Troup County76$1.9 million0.2%$1,0902
Cherokee County73$5.6 million0.2%$8602
Crisp County70$2.2 million1.9%$1,4102
Rockdale County70$1.5 million0.3%$7601
Forsyth County66$928,2520.3%$1,0100
McIntosh County66$1.0 million7.9%$1,0901
Colquitt County64$1.3 million0.3%$1,0103
Thomas County63$2.6 million0.6%$9403
Monroe County61$3.0 million0.6%$1,4102
Union County61$678,1510.9%$1,1901
Carroll County60$5.5 million0.3%$9402
White County58$693,3770.5%$1,2901
Paulding County54$891,5120.3%$8601
Chattooga County52$1.7 million0.2%n/a1
Bartow County50$906,8510.5%$9602
Laurens County49$1.3 million0.2%$9400
Butts County47$1.6 million1.1%$1,3100
Hall County46$733,4540.1%$1,0100
Coffee County45$923,7760.2%$9602
Newton County45$736,2540.3%$1,1103
Gordon County44$1.8 million0.5%$9401
Ware County44$286,5990.8%$8403
Murray County42$611,8270.1%n/a0
Baker County40$657,0951.1%n/a3
Early County40$902,0550.5%n/a1
Charlton County39$1.2 million0.6%$9101
Clarke County38$205,9000.4%$8600
Coweta County38$461,4960.3%$7102
Toombs County36$458,0540.5%$1,0902
Worth County35$480,5910.7%$1,4402
Walton County33$285,7510.2%$9100
Montgomery County32$460,9320.3%n/a3
Rabun County31$401,3711.1%$1,5601
Towns County31$240,8890.8%$1,4101
Appling County28$561,1061.1%$6403
Tattnall County26$398,9740.4%$1,1603
Upson County26$343,3060.1%n/a4
Spalding County24$153,4910.3%$7601
Brantley County23$425,6560.8%$7603
Ben Hill County22$179,4400.3%n/a1
Habersham County22$1.7 million0.2%$1,3601
Dooly County19$323,1420.6%n/a1
Lumpkin County18$261,3840.2%$1,3601
Long County17$382,9693.7%$9600
Brooks County16$443,1620.2%n/a3
Miller County16$333,7660.6%n/a1
Sumter County16$125,6550.7%$1,2900
Pulaski County15$254,3240.6%$1,0401
Pickens County14$162,2470.3%$9902
Washington County14$223,8340.3%$6400
Grady County13$167,9990.1%n/a1
Stephens County13$101,5290.3%$8601
Barrow County11$345,7110.1%$8100
Harris County11$118,0190.5%$8902
Jeff Davis County11$48,3250.3%n/a3
Pierce County11$344,8470.3%$1,2402
Jenkins County10$60,8170.5%n/a1
Jones County10$97,5230.2%$1,0100
Wheeler County10$82,0940.5%n/a1
Cook County9$146,2110.9%$6103
Dade County9$108,6960.4%$9402
Jasper County9$128,4170.5%$1,2601
Berrien County8$155,8970.3%$6903
Baldwin County7$85,1590.2%$1,1900
Evans County7$388,5890.4%n/a0
Jackson County7$65,7230.2%$8900
Wayne County7$56,1880.5%$8102
Candler County6$124,0280.3%n/a1
Emanuel County6$4,7770.2%n/a1
Peach County6$237,3790.2%$7101
Talbot County6$104,1310.1%n/a1
Telfair County6$91,9660.1%n/a1
Terrell County6$57,8490.2%n/a0
Calhoun County5$100,7060.2%n/a2
Clinch County5$1,1001.9%$8902
Elbert County5$13,7320.1%n/a0
Lamar County5$195,6440.2%n/a3
Lanier County5$35,8440.5%$5602
Macon County5$37,7100.2%n/a1
Putnam County5$21,8630.3%$1,2601
Screven County5$182,2900.4%$1,0601
Oconee County4$34,8300.3%$7900
Pike County4$13,4410.1%n/a0
Taylor County4$7,0040.0%n/a2
Dawson County3$4,1410.3%$1,0901
Heard County3$3,1010.0%n/a2
Atkinson County2$1,6400.2%n/a2
Banks County2$53,4580.1%n/a0
Burke County2$61,8250.1%n/a1
Chattahoochee County2$2,4200.0%n/a1
Greene County2$5,8390.3%$1,2402
Jefferson County2$11,4430.2%n/a0
Johnson County2$36,9490.0%n/a0
Madison County2$1,4480.1%n/a0
Bacon County1$00.1%n/a2
Bleckley County1$6,2030.3%n/a0
Dodge County1$00.1%n/a1
Echols County1$50,7110.2%n/a3
Franklin County1$12,2180.0%n/a0
Haralson County1$46,8450.1%n/a1
Hart County1$00.1%n/a0
Irwin County1$1,4320.1%n/a1
McDuffie County1$00.1%n/a0
Morgan County1$00.1%n/a2
Quitman County1$3350.1%n/a0
Randolph County1$1,0350.0%n/a1
Turner County1$00.3%n/a2
Twiggs County1$1,5630.0%n/a0
Clay County0$00.1%n/a1
Crawford County0$00.1%n/a2
Glascock County0$00.0%n/a0
Hancock County0$00.1%n/a0
Lincoln County0$00.1%n/a0
Marion County0$00.0%n/a1
Meriwether County0$00.1%n/a2
Oglethorpe County0$00.1%n/a1
Schley County0$00.0%n/a0
Stewart County0$00.0%n/a1
Taliaferro County0$00.1%n/a1
Treutlen County0$00.1%n/a1
Warren County0$00.0%n/a0
Webster County0$00.1%n/a1
Wilcox County0$00.2%n/a2
Wilkes County0$00.0%n/a1
Wilkinson County0$00.0%n/a0

Flood-related FEMA disaster declarations in Georgia

Declarations since 2000 that FEMA lists as involving flooding. "Help for individuals" means FEMA's Individual Assistance was approved for at least part of the area.

DeclarationDeclaredEventHelp for individuals
DR-4738-GA Sep 7, 2023 Hurricane Idalia Yes
DR-4297-GA Jan 26, 2017 Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding Yes
DR-4259-GA Feb 26, 2016 Severe Storms and Flooding No
DR-1973-GA Apr 29, 2011 Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Associated Flooding Yes
DR-1858-GA Sep 24, 2009 Severe Storms and Flooding Yes
DR-1833-GA Apr 23, 2009 Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-Line Winds Yes

What to do with this

A county's history doesn't tell you your own building's risk. To see your property's flood zone, use FEMA's flood map lookup. To weigh coverage, start with do I need flood insurance? and what flood insurance costs.

Where these numbers come from

All figures on this page are calculated from FEMA's public OpenFEMA datasets:

FEMA's redacted claims data doesn't identify properties, and FEMA notes that some records lack a county or flood zone. See how we use the data.