Enter any address in Oglethorpe County, Georgia to see its FEMA flood zone
Tropical storm activity is the most frequent type of flooding event recorded in Oglethorpe County over the past 30 years, with 15 occurrences. This includes events associated with hurricanes. For example, Tropical Storm Zeta brought widespread wind damage and isolated flooding in October 2020. More recently, Hurricane Helene in September 2024 caused widespread rainfall between 6 and 14 inches across north and central Georgia, with the highest amounts in east-central Georgia.
While tropical storms are the most common, flash floods and general flood events have also occurred. Residents in areas prone to river overflow or low-lying areas should pay particular attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
8 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Oglethorpe County, Georgia has recorded 22 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 3 flash floods and 2 river or area floods. The county has received 15 federal disaster declarations. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1977–2026)
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 Michael | Hurricane | Oct 9, 2018 |
| Hurricane Irma | Hurricane | Sep 7, 2017 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Dec 22, 2015 |
| 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 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Tropical Storm | Sep 27, 2024 | 2.00K |
| Tropical Storm | Oct 29, 2020 | — |
| Flash Flood | Mar 21, 2017 | 3.00K |
| Tropical Storm | Sep 11, 2017 | 75.00K |
| Flash Flood | Dec 30, 2015 | 25.00K |
| Flash Flood | Dec 30, 2015 | 122.50K |
| Tropical Storm | Sep 4, 2011 | 0.00K |
| Tropical Storm | Nov 10, 2009 | 0.00K |
| Tropical Storm | Aug 21, 2008 | 0.00K |
| Hurricane (Typhoon) | Aug 29, 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.
Flash Flood — Mar 21, 2017
A large mesoscale convective complex developed along a cold front across central and southern Tennessee in response to a series of short waves sweeping through the region. These thunderstorms encountered an unstable and moderately-sheared atmosphere as they moved south into north Georgia producing numerous, widespread reports of large hail and damaging thunderstorm winds as well as two isolated...
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 — Dec 30, 2015
Once again, persistent, deep and strong southwesterly upper-level flow across the eastern U.S. resulted in an extremely moist and moderately unstable atmosphere over North and Central Georgia. A stalled frontal boundary and a series of short waves in the southwesterly upper flow resulted in multiple rounds of heavy rain, and strong to severe thunderstorms, with widespread flash flooding and an ...
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
FEMA assigns flood zone designations to areas in Oglethorpe 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 Oglethorpe 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.