Butts County, Georgia
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
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
- 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.
- Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
- Have trees near the house checked.
- 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.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 32.1 | $3M | ||
| Strong wind | 78.0 | $995K | ||
| Tornado | 44.9 | $863K | ||
| Heat wave | 44.6 | $235K | ||
| Earthquake | 48.7 | $211K | ||
| Hail | 44.3 | $173K | ||
| Cold wave | 18.2 | $159K | ||
| Drought | 53.9 | $158K | ||
| Lightning | 30.0 | $89K | ||
| Ice storm | 46.6 | $60K | ||
| Hurricane | 48.4 | $51K | ||
| Wildfire | 38.6 | $19K | ||
| Winter weather | 5.0 | $3K | ||
| Landslide | 16.5 | $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
Most recent
Show all 17
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.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 12, 2023 | EF2 | Jenkinsburg | 10 / 2 |
| May 18, 1969 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jan 12, 2023 | EF1 | Towaliga | 0 / 0 |
| Jan 12, 2023 | EF1 | Jackson Howard Arpt | 0 / 0 |
| Feb 16, 2025 | EF1 | Worthville | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 22, 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | Fincherville | $550K |
| Nov 11, 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | Jenkinsburg | $450K |
| Nov 30, 2010 | Tornado | Jenkinsburg | $250K |
| Feb 18, 2009 | Hail | Fincherville | $240K |
| Apr 4, 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Jenkinsburg | $200K |
| Mar 15, 2008 | Hail | Jackson | $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.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 27, 2024 | Helene | Tropical storm, 70 mph | 57 mi |
| Oct 11, 2018 | Michael | Tropical storm, 65 mph | 58 mi |
| Oct 3, 1898 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 60 mi |
| Oct 3, 1893 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 55 mph | 63 mi |
| Sep 10, 1882 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 55 mph | 53 mi |
| Sep 23, 1889 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 55 mph | 55 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 27, 2024 | Helene | Tropical storm, 70 mph | 57 mi |
| Oct 11, 2018 | Michael | Tropical storm, 65 mph | 58 mi |
| Jun 15, 1965 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 53 mi |
| Aug 12, 1940 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 62 mi |
| Sep 4, 1915 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 63 mi |
| Sep 15, 1903 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 62 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 ›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
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 counties | Overall risk | Top hazard |
|---|---|---|
| Fulton County | Inland flooding | |
| Gwinnett County | Inland flooding | |
| Cobb County | Inland flooding | |
| DeKalb County | Inland flooding | |
| Clayton County | Inland flooding | |
| Chatham County | Hurricane | |
| Cherokee County | Inland flooding | |
| Forsyth County | Inland flooding |
Neighboring counties
| County | Overall risk | Declarations |
|---|---|---|
| Henry County | 15 | |
| Newton County | 19 | |
| Spalding County | 17 | |
| Monroe County | 19 | |
| Lamar County | 17 | |
| Jasper County | 15 |
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.