Enter any address in Lanier County, Georgia to see its FEMA flood zone
Tropical storms and flash floods have been the most frequent types of flood events in Lanier County over the past 30 years, with 11 tropical storm events and 5 flash flood events recorded. Recent examples include a major flash flood event in April 2024, which brought 6 to 10 inches of rain to southern Georgia, causing widespread flooding of cars and structures. In November 2024, slow-moving thunderstorms produced nearly 10 inches of rain in a 6-hour period over the Valdosta area, resulting in extreme rainfall.
While hurricanes have occurred less frequently, they can bring significant impacts, as seen with Hurricane Helene in September 2024, which made landfall as a Category 4 storm and moved inland across South Central Georgia. National Flood Insurance Program data shows that properties in Zone A have experienced claims, with an average payout of $7,014 and an average water depth of 0.0 feet. Residents in areas prone to flash flooding, as well as those in Zone A or near rivers and streams, should pay particular attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
15 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Lanier County, Georgia has recorded 19 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 5 flash floods. The county has received 17 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 (1977–2024)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Helene | Tropical Storm | Sep 24, 2024 |
| Hurricane Debby | Tropical Storm | Aug 4, 2024 |
| Tropical Storm Debby | Tropical Storm | Aug 4, 2024 |
| Hurricane Idalia | Hurricane | Aug 30, 2023 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Hurricane Michael | Hurricane | Oct 9, 2018 |
| Hurricane Irma | Hurricane | Sep 7, 2017 |
| Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, And Straight-line Winds | Severe Storm | Mar 26, 2009 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Hurricane | Aug 27, 2005 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Jun 30, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 27, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Hurricane (Typhoon) | Sep 26, 2024 | 100.00M |
| Flash Flood | Apr 11, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Nov 7, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Tropical Storm | Aug 5, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Hurricane (Typhoon) | Aug 30, 2023 | 1.00M |
| Flash Flood | Jun 29, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Tropical Storm | Nov 10, 2022 | 3.00K |
| Tropical Storm | Jul 7, 2021 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — Jun 30, 2024
Scattered thunderstorms developed during the afternoon, typical of summertime. A few trees were blown down with the strongest storms. In addition, slow moving storms produced localized flash flooding.
Flash Flood — May 27, 2024
Multiple rounds of severe storms impacted portions of southern Georgia during the May 25-28 period. Large hail and damaging wind gusts were reported, along with a few reports of flash flooding.
Hurricane (Typhoon) — Sep 26, 2024
Hurricane Helene made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph and a minimum central pressure of 938 mb (27.70 inches) at about 11:10 PM EDT on Thursday, September 26th, in Taylor County Florida just east of the Aucilla River. Helene quickly moved inland across Taylor and Madison Counties before moving into Lowndes County in South Central Georgia. The hurricane...
Flash Flood — Apr 11, 2024
A major flash flood event occurred across portions of the Florida big bend and southern Georgia during the late night hours of April 10th through the early morning hours of April 11th. Between 6 and 10 inches of rain fell with localized higher amounts, particularly over Tallahassee. This resulted in rapid water rises across Tallahassee with numerous cars and structures flooded. Several milli...
Flash Flood — Nov 7, 2024
A line of slow moving thunderstorms developed along a surface boundary across the Valdosta area and moved repeatedly over the same areas during the evening and overnight hours of November 6th. A record moist airmass for November standards was in place with dewpoints in the mid to upper 70s and precipitable water values well above 2 inches. This resulted in extremely heavy rainfall amounts cen...
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 Lanier 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 Lanier 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.