24,393 flood insurance claims·$516.2M paid·69,202 policies in force
Shaded areas are FEMA’s mapped flood hazard zones in and around Georgia. Zoomed out they are simplified; at street level the map switches to FEMA’s exact layer. Tap anywhere to check that spot, or search an address above.
Georgia faces a mixed flood risk characterized predominantly by inland flash flooding and tropical weather systems, with thousands of recorded events over the last 30 years resulting in dozens of fatalities.
According to NOAA data from the past three decades, flash floods are the most frequent hazard with 2,186 events and 14 deaths, closely followed by 1,966 tropical storm events and 29 deaths. Regular floods, hurricanes, coastal floods, tropical depressions, and storm surges also impact the state. Recent federal disaster declarations highlight the severe ongoing threat from tropical systems, specifically noting multiple declarations for Hurricane Helene on September 24, 2024, spanning both hurricane and tropical storm classifications.
National Flood Insurance Program claims data indicates that high-risk Zone A areas bear the heaviest financial burden, accounting for 15,304 claims and $365 million paid with an average of $31,358 per claim. Coastal Zone V properties also average high payouts at $31,413 per claim, though with fewer total incidents. Crucially, significant surprise claims occur outside high-risk zones, with Zone X categories generating thousands of claims totaling over $145 million combined. This distribution demonstrates that residents across both designated high-risk flood zones and standard zones face substantial financial exposure and require coverage.
Summary generated from FEMA disaster declarations, NOAA storm events, and NFIP claim data. Updated quarterly.
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Claims, Policies, and Disaster Declarations data. NFIP policies in force and average premium (premium plus federal policy fee) as of August 31, 2026, from OpenFEMA.
Georgia has received 2,765 federal disaster declarations, including 62 flood and coastal storm declarations and 557 hurricane declarations.
NFIP claims by county, 1978 to date. Source: OpenFEMA. Counties ranked by recorded flood events →
Properties in Georgia FEMA-designated Special Flood Hazard Areas (zones A and V) with a mortgage from a federally regulated or insured lender, or a federally backed loan, are required to carry flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
Georgia had 69,202 NFIP policies in force on August 31, 2026, and the average NFIP premium was $915 a year (premium plus the federal policy fee; the reserve fund assessment and HFIAA surcharge come on top, and nationally they make actual bills about a quarter higher). Under FEMA’s Risk Rating 2.0 each building is priced on its own flood risk, so a state average says little about what any one home will pay.
Even outside high-risk zones, flood insurance is recommended. From 2014 to 2024, nearly one-third of NFIP claims came from properties outside the high-risk Special Flood Hazard Area. Georgia residents can purchase flood insurance through the NFIP or private insurers.
Visit FloodSmart.gov to find an agent and get a quote.
See the most flood-prone counties in Georgia →
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