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Fannin County, Georgia

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

Relatively Low overall risk
45th of 159highest risk in Georgia
$14Mexpected losses a year
17federal declarations
1 in 59homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Fannin County, Georgia has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 56% of US counties. It ranks 45th of 159 counties in Georgia. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $14 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $570 per resident. Since 1974 it has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (10 major disasters). The most recent was in October 2026 (Hurricane Isaias). About 1 in 59 homes here carry federal flood insurance (291 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $850,000 on 92 claims here.

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

Top risks in Fannin County

$8.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 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.

Cold wave

Moderate
$2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
$1.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 5 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 floodingLow66.1
$9M
Cold waveModerate74.3
$2M
TornadoLow63.9
$2M
EarthquakeLow72.4
$709K
Strong windModerate53.0
$458K
LightningModerate61.7
$270K
WildfireLow76.3
$222K
DroughtLow59.4
$207K
HailLow43.2
$154K
HurricaneLow58.7
$139K
LandslideModerate95.7
$120K
Ice stormLow49.1
$62K
Winter weatherLow26.8
$19K
Heat waveVery Low6.0
$6K

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 low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Hurricane6
Severe Storm4
Severe Ice Storm2
Tropical Storm2
Tornado1
Snowstorm1

Most recent

Oct 9, 2026Hurricane IsaiasEmergency
Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
Sep 26, 2024Hurricane HeleneEmergency
May 5, 2021Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jan 12, 2021Tropical Storm ZetaMajor disaster
Sep 15, 2017Hurricane IrmaMajor disaster
Sep 8, 2017Hurricane IrmaEmergency
Feb 26, 2016Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 6, 2014Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Feb 11, 2014Severe Winter StormEmergency
Show all 17
Sep 5, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Sep 18, 2004Hurricane IvanMajor disaster
Jan 28, 2000Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Oct 10, 1995Hurricane OpalMajor disaster
Mar 15, 1993Severe Snowfall, Winter StormEmergency
Feb 23, 1990Severe Storms, Tornaodes & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 5, 1974TornadoesMajor 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 191 storm reports in Fannin County since 1961, with 0 deaths and 8 injuries and about $9.9 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on April 3, 1974.

9tornadoes
42hail reports, largest 4.25 inches
103damaging thunderstorm winds
22floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 3, 1974F4–0 / 0
Apr 3, 1974F2–2 / 0
Jan 30, 2013EF1Higdon1 / 0
Mar 8, 1961F1–0 / 0
Apr 5, 1985F1–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 3, 1974Tornado–$3M
Apr 3, 1974Tornado–$3M
May 26, 2011HailBlue Ridge$1M
Aug 13, 2005Flash FloodMc Caysville$300K
Mar 20, 2004HailBlue Ridge$250K
Aug 29, 2005TornadoLoving$250K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 4, 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 1915, 0 hurricanes and 4 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Fannin County, 3 of them since 1950. The strongest was Tropical Storm Zeta (2020), with top winds near 60 mph about 43 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
4tropical storms
2024most recent: Helene

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 29, 2020ZetaTropical storm, 60 mph43 mi
Sep 23, 1975EloiseTropical storm, 55 mph52 mi
Sep 27, 2024HeleneTropical storm, 50 mph48 mi
Sep 5, 1915UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph63 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 27, 2024HeleneTropical storm, 50 mph48 mi
Oct 29, 2020ZetaTropical storm, 60 mph43 mi
Sep 23, 1975EloiseTropical storm, 55 mph52 mi
Sep 5, 1915UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph63 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 Fannin County

Check your address flood zone ›
1.7%of homes have federal flood insurance (291 policies)
24.9%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$850,397paid on 92 flood claims since 1978
2015costliest year, with $255,916 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 Fannin County

$306,600median home value (Georgia $303,300, US $332,700)
1996median year homes were built (Georgia 1992, US 1980)
26%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
8%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; 18,490 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
Murray CountyLow14
Lumpkin CountyLow22
Gilmer CountyLow19
Cherokee County, NCLow14
Dawson CountyVery Low18
Union CountyLow15
Polk County, TNVery Low21

Common questions about Fannin County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Fannin County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Fannin County, about $8.5 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $2 million.

How many federal disasters has Fannin County had?

Fannin County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1974, including 10 major disasters. The most recent was Hurricane Isaias in October 2026.

Is Fannin County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 45th 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 Fannin County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 59 homes in Fannin 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 Fannin County had?

NOAA records list 9 tornadoes in Fannin County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on April 3, 1974. The weather service has also logged 42 hail reports and 22 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Fannin County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 4 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Fannin County. The strongest was Tropical Storm Zeta (2020), with winds near 60 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.