Enter any address in Wayne County, Georgia to see its FEMA flood zone
Wayne County experiences a mix of flood types, with tropical storms being the most frequent cause of significant weather events over the past 30 years, followed by general flooding and flash flooding. Recent events include localized heavy rainfall in July 2024 and impacts from strong onshore flow and heavy rainfall in December 2023. Hurricane Debby in August 2024 also brought widespread flooding inland to Southeast Georgia.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data shows that while Zone X areas have had more claims, Zone A areas have experienced deeper average water depths. Homeowners in Zone A, as well as those residing near rivers or in 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.
12 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Wayne County, Georgia has recorded 22 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 4 flash floods and 7 river or area floods. The county has received 19 federal disaster declarations. 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 Dorian | Hurricane | Aug 29, 2019 |
| 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 27, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jul 8, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Tropical Storm | Aug 4, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Tropical Storm | Aug 30, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Dec 17, 2023 | 10.00K |
| Flood | Mar 5, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jun 11, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Tropical Storm | Sep 4, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Tropical Storm | Sep 10, 2017 | 0.00K |
| Tropical Storm | Oct 6, 2016 | 0.00K |
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...
Flood — Jul 8, 2024
A front north of the region and high pressure across south FL brought prevailing SW flow over the area. Very high atmospheric moisture was in place with PWAT 2.2 to 2.4 inches. Isolated strong to pulse severe storms developed where boundaries merged in the late afternoon and evening, as well as localized heavy rainfall.
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 — Dec 17, 2023
A strong surface low deepened across the eastern Gulf of Mexico as high pressure dominated northeast of the region creating very strong onshore flow. Several days of persistent onshore flow increased water levels along the local Atlantic coast and within inland estuaries including the St. Johns River basin. As the low crossed the state, strong winds, heavy rainfall and storm surge impacted NE F...
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 Wayne 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 Wayne 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.