Enter any address in Franklin County, Georgia to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from heavy rainfall events is a primary flood concern in Franklin County. Over the past 30 years, NOAA Storm Events data shows 8 flash flood events and 5 general flood events, alongside 2 tropical storm events. For example, heavy rainfall associated with a slow-moving frontal system in February 2020 resulted in flash flooding across the region, with 3 to 6 inches of rain reported. More recently, Tropical Cyclone Helene in September 2024 produced widespread heavy rain over the southern Appalachians.
While flood risk exists across the county, homeowners in Zone X, which is not considered high-risk, have filed claims. One such claim averaged $12,218 and involved an average water depth of 1.0 foot. Residents should remain aware of flood potential, particularly those in areas prone to flash flooding or located near waterways that can experience overflow.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
5 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Franklin County, Georgia has recorded 15 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 8 flash floods and 5 river or area floods. The county has received 16 federal disaster declarations, 1 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1976–2026)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Winter Storm | Winter Storm | Jan 22, 2026 |
| Hurricane Helene | Tropical Storm | Sep 24, 2024 |
| Tropical Storm Zeta | Hurricane | Oct 29, 2020 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Hurricane Irma | Hurricane | Sep 7, 2017 |
| Severe Winter Storm | Severe Ice Storm | Feb 15, 2015 |
| Severe Winter Storm | Severe Ice Storm | Feb 10, 2014 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Hurricane | Aug 27, 2005 |
| Hurricane Ivan | Hurricane | Sep 14, 2004 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Tropical Storm | Sep 27, 2024 | 150.00K |
| Tropical Storm | Oct 29, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Feb 6, 2020 | 10.00K |
| Flash Flood | Feb 6, 2020 | 10.00K |
| Flash Flood | Apr 19, 2019 | 15.00K |
| Flood | Jul 29, 2005 | — |
| Flash Flood | Jul 7, 2005 | — |
| Flood | Sep 7, 2004 | K |
| Flash Flood | Mar 20, 2003 | 10K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 25, 2001 | — |
Tropical Storm — Sep 27, 2024
Tropical Cyclone Helene began organizing over the western Caribbean on the 23rd and 24th of September before rapidly intensifying as it moved north through the eastern Gulf of Mexico on the 25th and 26th. A plume of moisture extending from the intensifying storm interacted with a slow-moving cold front to produce a band of widespread heavy rain showers and embedded scattered thunderstorms over ...
Tropical Storm — Oct 29, 2020
Tropical Storm Zeta moved quickly from near the mouth of the Mississippi River to the southern Appalachians during the night of the 28th into the morning of the 29th. This resulted in frequent wind gusts of 35 to 50 mph, with occasional gusts as high as 60 mph across northeast Georgia throughout the morning. Numerous trees were blown down across the area, with hundreds of downed trees reported ...
Flood — Feb 6, 2020
Unusually high levels of moisture for early February combined with a slow-moving frontal system to produce an extended period of moderate to heavy rainfall across northeast Georgia from the morning of the 5th until the early morning hours of the 7th. Intense rain rates associated with bands of heavy rain showers and embedded thunderstorms developing along the front during the morning and aftern...
Flash Flood — Feb 6, 2020
Unusually high levels of moisture for early February combined with a slow-moving frontal system to produce an extended period of moderate to heavy rainfall across northeast Georgia from the morning of the 5th until the early morning hours of the 7th. Intense rain rates associated with bands of heavy rain showers and embedded thunderstorms developing along the front during the morning and aftern...
Flash Flood — Apr 19, 2019
A large area of moderate to heavy rain showers, along with embedded clusters of strong to severe thunderstorms moved slowly across northeast Georgia throughout the morning and into the afternoon of the 19th ahead of a slow-moving cold front. Some of the storms produced locally damaging winds, some of which were significant. However, the larger impact was from flash flooding resulting from a swa...
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Individual Claims (2.25M records analyzed).
FEMA assigns flood zone designations to areas in Franklin County, Georgia:
AE High Risk — 1% annual chance of flooding. Insurance required.
VE Very High Risk — Coastal flooding with wave action.
X (Shaded) Moderate Risk — 500-year floodplain.
X Low Risk — Outside major floodplains.
Properties in Franklin County, Georgia that are in FEMA-designated Special Flood Hazard Areas (zones A and V) with federally backed mortgages are required to carry flood insurance.
Even outside high-risk zones, flood insurance is recommended. From 2014 to 2024, nearly one-third of NFIP claims came from outside the high-risk Special Flood Hazard Area.
Visit FloodSmart.gov to find an agent and get a quote.