Enter any address in Thomas County, Georgia to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding is the most frequent type of flood event in Thomas County, GA, with 41 occurrences recorded in the last 30 years. Tropical storms and other flood events also contribute to the county's flood risk. For example, a major flash flood event in April 2024 brought between 6 and 10 inches of rain to the region, causing rapid water rises and flooding numerous cars and structures.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data shows that properties in Zone A experienced an average payout of $20,838 with an average water depth of 1.7 feet. Properties in Zone X, however, had a significantly higher average payout of $80,142, with an average water depth of 1.4 feet, indicating potential for substantial damage even in areas not designated as high-risk. Residents in Zone A and Zone X, as well as those in areas with unknown flood risk designations, should pay close attention to flood warnings and consider flood insurance.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
33 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Thomas County, Georgia has recorded 61 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 41 flash floods and 6 river or area floods. The county has received 20 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, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Tornado | Jan 21, 2017 |
| Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, And Straight-line Winds | Severe Storm | Mar 26, 2009 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Jul 31, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 27, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Mar 27, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Hurricane (Typhoon) | Sep 26, 2024 | 5.00M |
| Flash Flood | Sep 25, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Apr 11, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Tropical Storm | Aug 5, 2024 | 100.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 3, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 2, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Tropical Storm | Aug 30, 2023 | 100.00K |
Flash Flood — Jul 31, 2024
Scattered thunderstorms developed during the afternoon hours in a typical summertime environment. A few trees were blown down, and localized flash flooding occurred with slow storm motions.
Flash Flood — Sep 27, 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...
Flood — Mar 27, 2024
Steep mid-level lapse rates with sufficient instability ahead of a cold front sparked numerous thunderstorms across the area with severe weather. Most of the reports were in the form of large hail, and wind damage was confined to the Valdosta area. However, significant wind damage did occur in Valdosta due to a downburst.
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 — Sep 25, 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...
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 Thomas 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 Thomas 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.