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Camden County, Georgia

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

Relatively Low overall risk
49th of 159highest risk in Georgia
$21Mexpected losses a year
19federal declarations
1 in 7homes with flood insurance
Photo: CC0

Camden County, Georgia has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 54% of US counties. It ranks 49th of 159 counties in Georgia. The costliest hazards here are hurricanes, inland flooding and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $21 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $376 per resident. Since 1977 it has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (9 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2024 (Hurricane Helene). About 1 in 7 homes here carry federal flood insurance (2,920 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $6.3 million on 346 claims here, including $4.2 million for floods in 2017.

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

Top risks in Camden County

Hurricane

Moderate
$10.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 3 years.
  • Know your evacuation zone and route before June 1.
  • Ask about roof age, shutters and the separate wind or hurricane deductible on your home policy.
$4.7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 3 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.
$1.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 3 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
HurricaneModerate91.1
$10M
Inland floodingLow35.6
$5M
TornadoLow50.0
$1M
Coastal floodingModerate71.6
$1M
WildfireLow84.4
$749K
Heat waveLow59.0
$628K
EarthquakeVery Low55.3
$413K
Strong windLow33.1
$372K
LightningLow52.1
$285K
HailVery Low19.4
$78K
Ice stormLow44.9
$76K
Cold waveVery Low8.5
$65K
Winter weatherVery Low11.3
$10K
LandslideVery Low12.5
$47

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 low 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 Camden County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Hurricane11
Tropical Storm3
Severe Storm2
Freezing1
Drought1
Snowstorm1

Most recent

Sep 30, 2024Hurricane HeleneMajor disaster
Sep 26, 2024Hurricane HeleneEmergency
Sep 24, 2024Tropical Storm DebbyMajor disaster
Aug 5, 2024Hurricane DebbyEmergency
Sep 7, 2023Hurricane IdaliaMajor disaster
Sep 1, 2019Hurricane DorianEmergency
Oct 10, 2018Hurricane MichaelEmergency
Sep 15, 2017Hurricane IrmaMajor disaster
Sep 8, 2017Hurricane IrmaEmergency
Oct 8, 2016Hurricane MatthewMajor disaster
Show all 19
Oct 6, 2016Hurricane MatthewEmergency
Apr 23, 2009Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Sep 5, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Sep 24, 2004Tropical Storm FrancesMajor disaster
Sep 14, 1999Hurricane Floyd Emergency DeclarationsEmergency
Oct 19, 1994Heavy Rains, Tornados, Flooding, High WindsMajor disaster
Mar 15, 1993Severe Snowfall, Winter StormEmergency
Jul 20, 1977DroughtEmergency
Jun 2, 1977Shrimp Loss Due to Cold WeatherMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1961

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 451 storm reports in Camden County since 1961, with 0 deaths and 25 injuries and about $8.5 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF3 tornado on December 2, 2018 near St Marys Arpt.

25tornadoes
95hail reports, largest 2 inches
264damaging thunderstorm winds
13floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Dec 2, 2018EF3St Marys Arpt4 / 0
Oct 2, 1994F2St. Mary1 / 0
Feb 27, 1984F2–0 / 0
Jun 5, 1995F1St. Marys0 / 0
Jun 5, 1995F1St Marys0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Oct 2, 1994TornadoSt. Mary$5M
Jul 1, 2012FloodGreenville$800K
Jun 5, 1995TornadoSt. Marys$600K
Jun 5, 1995TornadoSt Marys$350K
Mar 9, 1976Tornado–$250K
Feb 27, 1984Tornado–$250K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 20, 2026. 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 1853, 17 hurricanes and 57 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Camden County, 22 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1898, with top winds near 130 mph about 62 miles away.

17hurricanes
4major hurricanes (Category 3+)
57tropical storms
2024most recent: Debby

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 2, 1898UnnamedCategory 4, 130 mph62 mi
Sep 8, 1854UnnamedCategory 3, 125 mph65 mi
Oct 13, 1893UnnamedCategory 3, 120 mph58 mi
Aug 27, 1893UnnamedCategory 3, 115 mph60 mi
Oct 7, 2016MatthewCategory 2, 110 mph64 mi
Sep 29, 1896UnnamedCategory 2, 110 mph51 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 5, 2024DebbyTropical storm, 55 mph64 mi
Aug 30, 2023IdaliaCategory 1, 75 mph65 mi
Nov 12, 2020EtaTropical storm, 45 mph62 mi
Oct 7, 2016MatthewCategory 2, 110 mph64 mi
Sep 14, 2016JuliaTropical storm, 50 mph61 mi
Jun 7, 2016ColinTropical storm, 50 mph49 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 Camden County

Check your address flood zone ›
14.9%of homes have federal flood insurance (2,920 policies)
75.1%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$6.3 millionpaid on 346 flood claims since 1978
2017costliest year, with $4.2 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 Camden County

$261,400median home value (Georgia $303,300, US $332,700)
1995median year homes were built (Georgia 1992, US 1980)
19%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
10.3%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; 23,671 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
Nassau County, FLLow38
Glynn CountyModerate18
Brantley CountyVery Low21
Charlton CountyVery Low19

Common questions about Camden County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Camden County?

Hurricane has the highest expected yearly losses in Camden County, about $10.3 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $4.7 million.

How many federal disasters has Camden County had?

Camden County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1977, including 9 major disasters. The most recent was Hurricane Helene in September 2024.

Is Camden County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 49th 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 Camden County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 7 homes in Camden 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 Camden County had?

NOAA records list 25 tornadoes in Camden County since 1950. The strongest was an EF3 tornado on December 2, 2018 near St Marys Arpt. The weather service has also logged 95 hail reports and 13 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Camden County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 17 hurricanes and 57 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Camden County, including 4 major hurricanes (Category 3 or stronger). The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1898, with winds near 130 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.