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Butts County, Georgia

Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.

Very Low overall risk
109th of 159highest risk in Georgia
$6Mexpected losses a year
17federal declarations
1 in 91homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Butts County, Georgia has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 80% of US counties. It ranks 109th of 159 counties in Georgia. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, strong wind and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $6.1 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $239 per resident. Since 1977 it has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (9 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). About 1 in 91 homes here carry federal flood insurance (102 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.6 million on 47 claims here, including $1.2 million for floods in 2024.

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.

Top risks in Butts County

$3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 5 years.
  • Check the FEMA flood map for your address, and ask the seller or landlord about past flooding.
  • Price a flood policy now. Most new federal policies take 30 days to start.

Strong wind

Moderate
$995,316 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.
$862,611 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 9 years.
  • Pick a shelter spot: a basement, or an inside room on the lowest floor with no windows.
  • Turn on emergency alerts on your phone and keep a weather radio.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low32.1
$3M
Strong windModerate78.0
$995K
TornadoLow44.9
$863K
Heat waveLow44.6
$235K
EarthquakeVery Low48.7
$211K
HailLow44.3
$173K
Cold waveVery Low18.2
$159K
DroughtLow53.9
$158K
LightningLow30.0
$89K
Ice stormLow46.6
$60K
HurricaneVery Low48.4
$51K
WildfireVery Low38.6
$19K
Winter weatherVery Low5.0
$3K
LandslideVery Low16.5
$62

Scores are percentiles: a score of 90 means higher risk than about 90% of US counties for that hazard. Hazards FEMA does not rate here are left out. Social vulnerability is relatively high and community resilience is relatively moderate in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

Federal declarations for natural events that included Butts County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Hurricane6
Severe Storm4
Severe Ice Storm2
Drought1
Snowstorm1
Tornado1

Most recent

Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
Sep 30, 2024Hurricane HeleneMajor disaster
Sep 26, 2024Hurricane HeleneEmergency
Jan 16, 2023Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Oct 10, 2018Hurricane MichaelEmergency
Sep 15, 2017Hurricane IrmaMajor disaster
Sep 8, 2017Hurricane IrmaEmergency
Mar 6, 2014Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Feb 11, 2014Severe Winter StormEmergency
Sep 5, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Show all 17
Sep 24, 2004Tropical Storm FrancesMajor disaster
Jan 28, 2000Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Mar 11, 1998Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 7, 1994Tornadoes, Flooding Torrential Rain(Trop Storm Alberto)Major disaster
Mar 15, 1993Severe Snowfall, Winter StormEmergency
Feb 23, 1990Severe Storms, Tornaodes & FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 20, 1977DroughtEmergency

Georgia also had 8 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1963

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 172 storm reports in Butts County since 1963, with 4 deaths and 11 injuries and about $3.1 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF2 tornado on January 12, 2023 near Jenkinsburg.

12tornadoes
41hail reports, largest 1.75 inches
108damaging thunderstorm winds
4floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jan 12, 2023EF2Jenkinsburg10 / 2
May 18, 1969F2–0 / 0
Jan 12, 2023EF1Towaliga0 / 0
Jan 12, 2023EF1Jackson Howard Arpt0 / 0
Feb 16, 2025EF1Worthville0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 22, 2009Thunderstorm WindFincherville$550K
Nov 11, 2002Thunderstorm WindJenkinsburg$450K
Nov 30, 2010TornadoJenkinsburg$250K
Feb 18, 2009HailFincherville$240K
Apr 4, 2011Thunderstorm WindJenkinsburg$200K
Mar 15, 2008HailJackson$200K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 15, 2025. Tornado records start in 1950, hail and wind in 1955, and floods and other storm types in 1996, so older decades undercount. Damage is in dollars of the year it happened and is often an estimate. Winter storms, heat and hurricanes are logged by forecast zone, not county, so they are not counted here.

Hurricanes and tropical storms

Hurricane risk by county ›

Since 1852, 0 hurricanes and 16 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Butts County, 3 of them since 1950. The strongest was Tropical Storm Helene (2024), with top winds near 70 mph about 57 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
16tropical storms
2024most recent: Helene

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 27, 2024HeleneTropical storm, 70 mph57 mi
Oct 11, 2018MichaelTropical storm, 65 mph58 mi
Oct 3, 1898UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph60 mi
Oct 3, 1893UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph63 mi
Sep 10, 1882UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph53 mi
Sep 23, 1889UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph55 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 27, 2024HeleneTropical storm, 70 mph57 mi
Oct 11, 2018MichaelTropical storm, 65 mph58 mi
Jun 15, 1965UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph53 mi
Aug 12, 1940UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph62 mi
Sep 4, 1915UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph63 mi
Sep 15, 1903UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph62 mi

Source: NOAA National Hurricane Center best-track records (HURDAT2), 1851 to 2025 for the Atlantic and 1949 to 2025 for the eastern Pacific. A storm counts if its track passed within 65 miles of the county's center while it was a tropical storm or hurricane. Strength is the storm's top sustained wind at that point, not the wind measured in the county. Older storms over the open sea were sometimes missed.

Flood insurance in Butts County

Check your address flood zone ›
1.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (102 policies)
31.6%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1.6 millionpaid on 47 flood claims since 1978
2024costliest year, with $1.2 million paid

National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) records only; private flood policies are not included. Home counts as of Aug 3, 2026. Since 2021 NFIP prices each home separately under Risk Rating 2.0, so your price depends on the building, not the county. Ask an agent for a quote.

Homes in Butts County

$240,600median home value (Georgia $303,300, US $332,700)
1994median year homes were built (Georgia 1992, US 1980)
28%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
7.1%of homes are mobile homes, which are the least safe in tornadoes and high winds

Older homes and mobile homes usually suffer more damage in storms, floods and earthquakes, and can cost more to insure. If you are buying, ask about roof age, foundation bolting and any retrofits. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 5-year estimates; 9,723 housing units.

Compare in Georgia

All 159 ›
Largest countiesOverall riskTop hazard
Fulton CountyHighInland flooding
Gwinnett CountyHighInland flooding
Cobb CountyHighInland flooding
DeKalb CountyModerateInland flooding
Clayton CountyModerateInland flooding
Chatham CountyHighHurricane
Cherokee CountyModerateInland flooding
Forsyth CountyModerateInland flooding

Neighboring counties

CountyOverall riskDeclarations
Henry CountyLow15
Newton CountyLow19
Spalding CountyVery Low17
Monroe CountyVery Low19
Lamar CountyVery Low17
Jasper CountyVery Low15

Common questions about Butts County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Butts County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Butts County, about $3 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Strong wind is second at $995,316.

How many federal disasters has Butts County had?

Butts County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1977, including 9 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is Butts County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 109th highest of 159 in Georgia. A county rating covers the whole area. Risk at one address can be much higher or lower, so check the FEMA flood map and ask about the home's history.

Do I need flood insurance in Butts County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 91 homes in Butts County has federal flood insurance. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.

How many tornadoes has Butts County had?

NOAA records list 12 tornadoes in Butts County since 1950. The strongest was an EF2 tornado on January 12, 2023 near Jenkinsburg. The weather service has also logged 41 hail reports and 4 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Butts County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 16 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Butts County. The strongest was Tropical Storm Helene (2024), with winds near 70 mph.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025), OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, and NFIP policy and claims data. Hazard Compass is independent and not affiliated with FEMA. These figures describe the whole county, not a single property, and are not insurance or safety advice. Report a problem.