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Floyd County, Georgia

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

Relatively Moderate overall risk
14th of 159highest risk in Georgia
$40Mexpected losses a year
18federal declarations
1 in 167homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Floyd County, Georgia has a moderate overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 82% of US counties. It ranks 14th of 159 counties in Georgia. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $40 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $403 per resident. Since 1966 it has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (9 major disasters). The most recent was in October 2026 (Hurricane Isaias). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (208 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $3.4 million on 382 claims here, including $1.3 million for floods in 1990.

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

Top risks in Floyd County

$18.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • 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.
$10 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.

Cold wave

Moderate
$4.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingModerate82.4
$19M
TornadoHigh94.8
$10M
Cold waveModerate84.3
$4M
EarthquakeLow85.1
$2M
Strong windHigh91.5
$2M
HailModerate74.9
$592K
Heat waveLow63.7
$587K
LightningModerate73.2
$470K
DroughtModerate69.1
$425K
HurricaneLow63.5
$260K
WildfireLow74.4
$210K
Ice stormModerate65.3
$145K
Winter weatherVery Low22.6
$17K
LandslideLow80.7
$14K

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 Floyd County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm5
Hurricane4
Flood2
Tropical Storm2
Drought1
Snowstorm1

Most recent

Oct 9, 2026Hurricane IsaiasEmergency
Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
Sep 26, 2024Hurricane HeleneEmergency
Sep 15, 2017Hurricane IrmaMajor disaster
Sep 8, 2017Hurricane IrmaEmergency
Feb 11, 2014Severe Winter StormEmergency
Apr 29, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Associated FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 20, 2008Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
Sep 5, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jan 28, 2000Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Show all 18
Mar 11, 1998Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 10, 1995Hurricane OpalMajor disaster
Mar 31, 1994Tornadoes, Flooding, and Severe StormsMajor disaster
Mar 15, 1993Severe Snowfall, Winter StormEmergency
Feb 23, 1990Severe Storms, Tornaodes & FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 13, 1979Rain, Flooding, MudslideEmergency
Jul 20, 1977DroughtEmergency
Mar 14, 1966FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1955

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 512 storm reports in Floyd County since 1955, with 5 deaths and 53 injuries and about $48.6 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on April 4, 1977.

19tornadoes
116hail reports, largest 3 inches
286damaging thunderstorm winds
46floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 4, 1977F3–15 / 1
Mar 15, 2008EF3Wax1 / 1
Apr 27, 2011EF2Haney4 / 0
Nov 15, 1989F2–1 / 0
Dec 22, 2011EF2Coosa3 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 27, 2011Thunderstorm WindCave Spg$20M
Apr 27, 2011TornadoHaney$5M
Apr 4, 1977Tornado–$3M
Nov 15, 1989Tornado–$3M
Dec 22, 2011TornadoCoosa$2M
Feb 22, 2012TornadoForrestville$2M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Mar 9, 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 1898, 0 hurricanes and 5 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Floyd County, 3 of them since 1950. The strongest was Tropical Storm Eloise (1975), with top winds near 60 mph about 42 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
5tropical storms
2020most recent: Zeta

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 23, 1975EloiseTropical storm, 60 mph42 mi
Oct 29, 2020ZetaTropical storm, 60 mph24 mi
Oct 5, 1995OpalTropical storm, 50 mph52 mi
Oct 3, 1898UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph63 mi
Sep 4, 1915UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph54 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 29, 2020ZetaTropical storm, 60 mph24 mi
Oct 5, 1995OpalTropical storm, 50 mph52 mi
Sep 23, 1975EloiseTropical storm, 60 mph42 mi
Sep 4, 1915UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph54 mi
Oct 3, 1898UnnamedTropical storm, 45 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 Floyd County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.6%of homes have federal flood insurance (208 policies)
15.2%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$3.4 millionpaid on 382 flood claims since 1978
1990costliest year, with $1.3 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 Floyd County

$217,900median home value (Georgia $303,300, US $332,700)
1978median year homes were built (Georgia 1992, US 1980)
54%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
7.3%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; 40,918 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
Bartow CountyLow18
Walker CountyLow18
Gordon CountyLow17
Polk CountyLow16
Chattooga CountyLow14
Cherokee County, ALLow23

Cities in Floyd County

Common questions about Floyd County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Floyd County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Floyd County, about $18.6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $10 million.

How many federal disasters has Floyd County had?

Floyd County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1966, including 9 major disasters. The most recent was Hurricane Isaias in October 2026.

Is Floyd County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 14th 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 Floyd County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 167 homes in Floyd 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 Floyd County had?

NOAA records list 19 tornadoes in Floyd County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on April 4, 1977. The weather service has also logged 116 hail reports and 46 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Floyd County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 5 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Floyd County. The strongest was Tropical Storm Eloise (1975), 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.