Enter any address in Madison County, Georgia to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from heavy rainfall events dominates the flood character of Madison County. Over the past 30 years, NOAA Storm Events data shows 14 tropical storm events and 5 flash flood events impacting the county. For example, in June 2014, thunderstorms trained over Madison County, causing flash flooding of local creeks. More recently, Tropical Storm Zeta in October 2020 brought widespread wind damage and isolated flooding. Hurricane Helene in September 2024 also produced significant rainfall across the region.
While the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) data for Madison County shows only one claim in Zone X with no payout and no reported water depth, this does not negate the risk of future flooding. Residents in areas prone to flash flooding, particularly those near creeks and low-lying areas, should remain aware of weather conditions and heed flood warnings.
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.
Madison County, Georgia has recorded 22 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 5 flash floods and 1 river or area floods. The county has received 14 federal disaster declarations. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1973–2026)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Winter Storm | Winter Storm | Jan 22, 2026 |
| Hurricane Helene | Tropical Storm | Sep 24, 2024 |
| 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 |
| Drought | Drought | Jul 20, 1977 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Tropical Storm | Sep 27, 2024 | 1.00K |
| Tropical Storm | Oct 29, 2020 | — |
| Tropical Storm | Sep 11, 2017 | 100.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 11, 2014 | 60.00K |
| Tropical Storm | Sep 4, 2011 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 21, 2009 | 5.00K |
| Tropical Storm | Nov 10, 2009 | 0.00K |
| Tropical Storm | Aug 21, 2008 | 0.00K |
| Hurricane (Typhoon) | Aug 29, 2005 | — |
| Tropical Storm | Jun 12, 2005 | — |
Tropical Storm — Sep 27, 2024
Hurricane Helene made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane in the Big Bend region of Florida at 11 PM EDT. Helene moved quickly inland bringing wind gusts between 50 and 100 mph to portions of east and central Georgia. Widespread rainfall totals between 6 and 14 inches were observed in association with Helene across north and central Georgia. The highest rainfall amounts were primarily observed i...
Tropical Storm — Oct 29, 2020
During the late evening of October 28th through the morning of October 29th, Tropical Storm Zeta swept rapidly across north Georgia producing widespread wind damage and isolated flooding across north and portions of central Georgia. Around 1.5 million customers lost electricity for some period of time, some for several days.
Tropical Storm — Sep 11, 2017
On the morning of August 30th Tropical Storm Irma developed rapidly over the eastern Atlantic Ocean, just west of the Cape Verde Islands. Tropical Irma quickly strengthened as it moved west, reaching hurricane strength by the morning of August 31st. Hurricane Irma continued to move steadily westward across the Atlantic Ocean, intensifying to category 4 storm on the Saffir-Simpson scale as it ap...
Flash Flood — Jun 11, 2014
A cold front pushed across the Southeast U.S. on the 11th, with a very moist airmass in place ahead of the front. Once again, widespread showers and thunderstorms developed. A couple of these became severe with damaging winds reported, but some of these thunderstorms trained over the same areas of Madison and Emanuel Counties which dumped heavy rain and caused flash flooding of a few creeks.
Tropical Storm — Sep 4, 2011
Tropical Storm Lee moved slowly onshore the Louisiana coast on Friday September 2nd and then grudgingly moved northeast through Sunday September 4th before finally becoming caught up in an eastward advancing upper trough and associated frontal system. The remnants of Lee tracked across central Mississippi, central and northern Alabama, and into northern Georgia on the 5th before moving northea...
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 Madison 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 Madison 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.