Elbert County, Georgia
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Elbert County, Georgia has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 69% of US counties. It ranks 88th of 159 counties in Georgia. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, heat waves and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $6.9 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $351 per resident. Since 1977 it has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (6 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). Only 6 homes here carry federal flood insurance.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Elbert 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.
- Check that cooling works before summer.
- Know where the nearest cooling center is.
- 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 | 35.8 | $3M | ||
| Heat wave | 74.1 | $763K | ||
| Tornado | 40.9 | $618K | ||
| Earthquake | 71.6 | $606K | ||
| Cold wave | 45.9 | $557K | ||
| Hurricane | 72.2 | $497K | ||
| Strong wind | 35.5 | $244K | ||
| Ice storm | 77.9 | $238K | ||
| Hail | 54.7 | $220K | ||
| Drought | 54.8 | $141K | ||
| Lightning | 32.6 | $83K | ||
| Wildfire | 41.1 | $20K | ||
| Winter weather | 9.7 | $5K | ||
| Landslide | 31.8 | $246 |
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 very high and community resilience is relatively low in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Elbert County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 14
Georgia also had 8 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1954
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 232 storm reports in Elbert County since 1954, with 0 deaths and 35 injuries and about $1.7 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on March 31, 1954.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 31, 1954 | F2 | – | 20 / 0 |
| May 6, 2003 | F2 | Bowman | 12 / 0 |
| Mar 15, 2008 | EF2 | Elberton | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 2, 1972 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 16, 2004 | F1 | Fortsonia | 1 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 31, 1954 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Mar 2, 1972 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Oct 7, 2021 | Flash Flood | Bowman | $250K |
| May 6, 2003 | Tornado | Bowman | $200K |
| Sep 16, 2004 | Tornado | Fortsonia | $100K |
| Mar 15, 2008 | Tornado | Elberton | $100K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 5, 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 1852, 0 hurricanes and 13 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Elbert County, 3 of them since 1950. The strongest was Tropical Storm Helene (2024), with top winds near 65 mph about 52 miles away.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 27, 2024 | Helene | Tropical storm, 65 mph | 52 mi |
| Aug 28, 1949 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 65 mph | 64 mi |
| Oct 11, 2018 | Michael | Tropical storm, 55 mph | 62 mi |
| Sep 24, 1889 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 59 mi |
| Oct 3, 1893 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 59 mi |
| Jul 15, 1916 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 63 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 27, 2024 | Helene | Tropical storm, 65 mph | 52 mi |
| Oct 11, 2018 | Michael | Tropical storm, 55 mph | 62 mi |
| Aug 30, 1964 | Cleo | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 61 mi |
| Aug 28, 1949 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 65 mph | 64 mi |
| Jul 15, 1916 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 63 mi |
| Sep 18, 1906 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 56 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 Elbert 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 Elbert 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; 9,426 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Anderson County, SC | 19 | |
| Madison County | 13 | |
| Hart County | 12 | |
| Abbeville County, SC | 19 | |
| Oglethorpe County | 13 | |
| Wilkes County | 15 | |
| McCormick County, SC | 19 | |
| Lincoln County | 11 |
Common questions about Elbert County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Elbert County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Elbert County, about $2.9 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Heat wave is second at $762,680.
How many federal disasters has Elbert County had?
Elbert County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1977, including 6 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.
Is Elbert County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 88th 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 Elbert County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 1000 homes in Elbert 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 Elbert County had?
NOAA records list 15 tornadoes in Elbert County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on March 31, 1954. The weather service has also logged 60 hail reports and 23 floods here.
How many hurricanes have hit Elbert County?
NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 13 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Elbert County. The strongest was Tropical Storm Helene (2024), with winds near 65 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.