Enter any address in Ware County, Georgia to see its FEMA flood zone
River overflow and flash flooding are the primary flood concerns in Ware County. Recent events include widespread flooding across inland Southeast Georgia in August 2024, following Hurricane Debby, which caused flash flooding and moderate to major river flooding. Additionally, localized heavy rainfall produced flash flooding in November 2024, associated with Hurricane Rafael.
The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) data indicates that properties in Zone A have experienced the most claims, with an average payout of $6,380 and an average water depth of 1.8 feet. Properties in Zone X_Unshaded have also seen claims with a higher average water depth of 2.0 feet, though with fewer claims. Homeowners in Zone A, and those in Zone X_Unshaded, should pay particular attention to their flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
6 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Ware County, Georgia has recorded 16 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 6 flash floods and 6 river or area floods. The county has received 24 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 |
| West Mims Fire | Fire | May 6, 2017 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Tornado | Jan 21, 2017 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Tropical Storm | Sep 27, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Nov 7, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Tropical Storm | Aug 4, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Tropical Storm | Aug 30, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jun 11, 2022 | 0.50K |
| Flood | Dec 2, 2018 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jul 31, 2015 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Apr 2, 2009 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Apr 1, 2009 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Mar 7, 2003 | — |
Tropical Storm — Sep 27, 2024
Hurricane Helene made landfall as a category 4 with peak winds of near 140 mph in the Florida Big |Bend just east of the Aucilla River Entrance in Taylor County, late Thursday evening September 26, |2024. Helene's main impact to southeast Georgia and northeast Florida was wind damage as it |tracked quickly north-northeast. The very powerful hurricane and the forward motion produced a |wide swa...
Flash Flood — Nov 7, 2024
Tropical moisture on the east side of Hurricane Rafael combined with an inverted trough combined to produce localized heavy rainfall across inland areas under onshore, easterly flow. This influx of moisture combined with instability produced thunderstorms and showers will heavy rainfall rates. A flood watch was in effect.
Tropical Storm — Aug 4, 2024
Hurricane Debby made landfall as a Category 1 storm along the FL Big Bend coast during the early morning of August 5, 2024. Prior to landfall, outer convective bands produced tornadoes across portions of northeast Florida on August 4th. Widespread flooding moved inland with Debby across the Suwannee River Valley and inland Southeast Georgia where flash flooding and moderate to major river flood...
Tropical Storm — Aug 30, 2023
Hurricane Idalia made landfall Wednesday morning August 30th around 745 AM EDT along the|Florida Big Bend near Keaton Beach as a category 3, with the inner core moving NE across the|Suwannee River Valley. The inner wind core of Idalia gradually weakened through the morning while,|heavily impacting Suwannee and Hamilton counties in NE Florida and Echols county SE Georgia as the|circulation track...
Flood — Jun 11, 2022
Southwesterly flow and increased moisture with divergence over the area ahead of an approaching mid level trough enhanced sea breeze convection across the area in the afternoon and evening. The sea breezes merged near the Atlantic coast where a few strong to severe storms developed.
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 Ware 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 Ware 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.