143 flood insurance claims·$981,213 paid·3 federal flood & hurricane disasters
Share of the whole county outline, rivers and lakes included; parts FEMA hasn’t mapped count as zero.
Shaded areas are FEMA’s mapped flood hazard zones in and around Polk County, 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.
Flash flooding from severe weather and tropical systems dominates the flood history of Polk County, Georgia. Over a 30-year period, NOAA records show 25 flash flood events, 13 tropical storm events, 6 general flood events, and 3 hurricane events.
Recent occurrences illustrate these risks. On January 4, 2023, a developing weather system brought moist southerly winds and a cold front that produced flash flooding across the area. Earlier, on August 19, 2021, a weak mid-level short wave combined with strong daytime heating and saturated soils to cause flash flooding in Polk County after rainfall totals reached up to 3 inches.
National Flood Insurance Program claims data indicates that properties in designated high-risk areas experience the most frequent impacts. Zone A accounts for the highest volume with 76 claims, averaging an $10,986 payout and an average recorded water depth of 4 inches. Properties categorized under Zone UNKNOWN recorded 47 claims with an average payout of $5,793 and an average water depth of 2 inches. Meanwhile, properties in Zone X recorded 10 claims with an average payout of $4,826 and a higher average water depth of 20 inches. Homeowners and real estate agents managing properties in Zone A and Zone UNKNOWN should pay close attention to these flood risks.
Summary written from NOAA storm reports and NFIP claims for this county. Not a prediction.
12% of Polk County’s flood insurance claims were on properties rated outside FEMA’s high-risk zones.
86 NFIP claims with a recorded rated flood zone, 1978 to date. The zone is the one FEMA used to rate that policy, which may not match today’s map. Source: OpenFEMA NFIP claims.
In flood insurance claims here that reported a flood depth, the average was 3 inches.
Drawn to scale against an 80-inch door. Even a few inches soaks flooring, the bottom of the drywall and anything plugged in near the floor.
Average of the depths reported on claims (zero and implausible values left out); FEMA’s record doesn’t say exactly where each depth was measured. Source: OpenFEMA NFIP claims.
The worst year was 1979, with 65 claims and $518,220 paid, the year of Rain, Flooding, Mudslide.
Bar height is scaled by square root so ordinary years stay visible next to the worst one. NFIP claims by year of loss. Source: OpenFEMA.
23 NOAA storm reports from Polk County describe what happened, in the words of the forecasters who covered it. Read the Georgia flood stories →
17 federal disaster declarations since 1974, 3 of them floods, coastal storms or hurricanes.
| Disaster | Began |
|---|---|
| Severe Winter Storm | Jan 22, 2026 |
| Hurricane Helene | Sep 24, 2024 |
| Hurricane Irma | Sep 7, 2017 |
| Severe Winter Storm | Feb 10, 2014 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, And Associated Flooding | Apr 27, 2011 |
| Severe Storms And Tornadoes | Mar 14, 2008 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Aug 27, 2005 |
| Hurricane Opal | Oct 4, 1995 |
Weather and water disasters only; most recent first. Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations.
47 since 1996: 25 flash floods and 6 river or area floods.
| Event | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Jan 4, 2023 | — |
| Flash Flood | Aug 19, 2021 | $20,000 |
| Flash Flood | Aug 19, 2021 | — |
| Flash Flood | Aug 19, 2021 | $50,000 |
| Flash Flood | Aug 19, 2021 | $40,000 |
| Flash Flood | Aug 19, 2021 | $30,000 |
| Tropical Storm | Oct 28, 2020 | — |
| Flash Flood | Apr 9, 2019 | $5.0M |
— = no damage estimate in the record. Source: NOAA Storm Events Database.
Flash Flood · Jan 4, 2023. A strong developing system over brought moist southerly winds across the north and central Georgia, creating isolated severe thunderstorms and flash flooding on the afternoon and evening of January 3rd. The severe weather threat continued into Wednesday, January 4th, as the storm progressed eastward and brought a cold front across the area, producing isolated damaging wind gusts.
Flash Flood · Aug 19, 2021. A weak mid-level short wave moving through the region, combined with strong daytime heating isolated strong to severe thunderstorms across north Georgia during the afternoon. Although rainfall totals were generally 1.5 inches or less, portions of the greater Atlanta metropolitan area received 2 to 3 inches of rain. These amounts, falling on already saturated soils, cause flash flooding in Polk County.
Tropical Storm · Oct 28, 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 · Apr 9, 2019. A surface low associated with a deep upper-level trough swept across north and central Georgia bringing widespread showers and thunderstorms, accompanied by heavy rain. Despite somewhat limited instability, the strong dynamics and moderate shear resulted in isolated reports of damaging thunderstorm winds and large hail. Rainfall amounts of 2 to 3 inches quickly fell over portions of northern Georgia.
National Weather Service narratives, lightly trimmed. Source: NOAA Storm Events Database.
Every colour on the map above is a place on this drawing: where the ground sits relative to the flood FEMA plans for.
If a building in Polk County is in a high-risk zone (A or V) and its mortgage comes from a federally regulated or insured lender, or is federally backed, flood insurance is required.
Outside those zones it is optional, and often worth having: from 2014 to 2024 nearly one-third of NFIP claims came from outside the high-risk Special Flood Hazard Area. Since Risk Rating 2.0, NFIP premiums are set for each building, so the only reliable price is a quote: FloodSmart.gov or a local agent.