Enter any address in Screven County, Georgia to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from heavy rainfall events is a significant flood character for Screven County. Over the past 30 years, NOAA Storm Events data shows 6 flash flood events, alongside 4 tropical storm events and 4 general flood events. For example, in July 2013, excessive rainfall caused a pond to overflow, breaching an earthen dam and sending water across Highway 17. More recently, in February 2020, prolonged rainfall from multiple low-pressure systems led to extended areal flooding across much of the county as waters were slow to recede.
While flash flooding is common, other flood types also impact the area. Tropical Storm Helene made landfall in September 2024 as a Category 4 hurricane, and Tropical Storm Hermine made landfall in September 2016 as a Category 1 hurricane, both impacting the region. National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data indicates that properties in Zone A have experienced an average of 33 feet of water depth, with an average payout of $4,381. Properties in Zone X have seen fewer claims but with a higher average payout of $84,573, though with a much lower average water depth of 0.5 feet. Homeowners in areas prone to flash flooding, as well as those in Zone A, should pay particular attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
4 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Screven County, Georgia has recorded 15 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 6 flash floods and 4 river or area floods. The county has received 21 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 (1977–2026)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Winter Storm | Winter Storm | Jan 22, 2026 |
| 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 |
| Hurricane Matthew | Hurricane | Oct 4, 2016 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Tropical Storm | Sep 26, 2024 | — |
| Flood | Feb 20, 2020 | 225.00K |
| Tropical Storm | Sep 2, 2016 | — |
| Flash Flood | Jul 13, 2013 | 30.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 13, 2013 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 13, 2013 | 5.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 13, 2013 | 1.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 3, 2007 | 3.00K |
| Tropical Storm | Jun 12, 2006 | — |
| Flash Flood | Jul 31, 2005 | — |
Tropical Storm — Sep 26, 2024
Helene first developed into a tropical storm in the northwest Caribbean Sea in the late morning of September 24, and strengthened into a hurricane near the Yucatan peninsula about 24 hours later. Helene continued to strengthen and became a major hurricane as it moved to the north-northeast across the eastern Gulf of Mexico. Helene made landfall in the Big Bend region of Florida in the late even...
Flood — Feb 20, 2020
Periods of low to moderate rainfall from several low pressure systems tracking over Southeast Georgia during early to mid February eventually led to an extended period of areal flooding across much of Screven County while waters were slow to runoff or recede.
Tropical Storm — Sep 2, 2016
Hermine developed as a Tropical Depression near the north coast of Cuba on August 28th. The depression then tracked westward into the central Gulf of Mexico and strengthened into a Tropical Storm. Hermine then tracked generally northeastward and strengthened into a Hurricane. According to the National Hurricane Center, Hermine made landfall as a Category 1 Hurricane at 1:30 am EDT on September ...
Flash Flood — Jul 13, 2013
A 78 acre pond overflowed due to excessive rainfall. Once the earthen dam breached, waters surged across Highway 17, taking numerous trees and debris with it.||In Chatham County, heavy rain produced flash flooding near Savannah. The official rainfall during the day was 2.55 inches, which broke the record for that day.
Flash Flood — Jun 3, 2007
Heavy rainfall fell in association with T.S. Barry as it tracked northward along the GA and SC coasts.
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 Screven 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 Screven 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.