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Gordon County, Georgia

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

Relatively Low overall risk
30th of 159highest risk in Georgia
$28Mexpected losses a year
17federal declarations
1 in 200homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Gordon County, Georgia has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 67% of US counties. It ranks 30th of 159 counties in Georgia. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, drought and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $28 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $482 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 17 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 (103 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.8 million on 44 claims here, including $1.0 million for floods in 2023.

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

Top risks in Gordon County

$10.1 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.
$6.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 31 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.

Tornado

Moderate
$3.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 4 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 floodingLow62.1
$10M
DroughtHigh98.7
$7M
TornadoModerate77.0
$4M
Cold waveModerate74.8
$3M
EarthquakeLow79.4
$2M
Strong windModerate75.4
$1M
LightningModerate65.5
$440K
HailLow58.8
$382K
Heat waveVery Low37.0
$208K
HurricaneLow59.3
$201K
Ice stormLow52.8
$101K
Winter weatherLow51.1
$69K
WildfireVery Low54.7
$65K
LandslideLow75.0
$9K

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 low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm5
Hurricane4
Tornado2
Tropical Storm2
Drought1
Snowstorm1

Most recent

Oct 9, 2026Hurricane IsaiasEmergency
Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
Sep 26, 2024Hurricane HeleneEmergency
May 5, 2021Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
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
Sep 5, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jan 28, 2000Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Show all 17
Mar 11, 1998Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 10, 1995Hurricane OpalMajor disaster
Mar 15, 1993Severe Snowfall, Winter StormEmergency
Feb 23, 1990Severe Storms, Tornaodes & FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 20, 1977DroughtEmergency
Apr 5, 1974TornadoesMajor disaster
Apr 4, 1973Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1957

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 292 storm reports in Gordon County since 1957, with 6 deaths and 51 injuries and about $39.7 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on April 3, 1974.

17tornadoes
108hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
124damaging thunderstorm winds
33floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 3, 1974F4–25 / 6
Jan 30, 2013EF3Blackwood8 / 0
Dec 22, 2011EF3Plainville4 / 0
Apr 8, 1957F2–5 / 0
Mar 16, 1973F2–5 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jan 30, 2013TornadoBlackwood$15M
May 1, 2002Thunderstorm WindCountywide$12M
Apr 3, 1974Tornado–$3M
Apr 4, 2011HailResaca$2M
May 20, 2008HailOostanaula$1M
Mar 31, 1998Thunderstorm WindRanger$600K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 14, 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 1898, 0 hurricanes and 4 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Gordon County, 2 of them since 1950. The strongest was Tropical Storm Eloise (1975), with top winds near 60 mph about 64 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
4tropical storms
2020most recent: Zeta

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 23, 1975EloiseTropical storm, 60 mph64 mi
Oct 29, 2020ZetaTropical storm, 60 mph50 mi
Sep 5, 1915UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph49 mi
Oct 3, 1898UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph63 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 29, 2020ZetaTropical storm, 60 mph50 mi
Sep 23, 1975EloiseTropical storm, 60 mph64 mi
Sep 5, 1915UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph49 mi
Oct 3, 1898UnnamedTropical 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 Gordon County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.5%of homes have federal flood insurance (103 policies)
10.4%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1.8 millionpaid on 44 flood claims since 1978
2023costliest year, with $1 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 Gordon County

$222,900median home value (Georgia $303,300, US $332,700)
1987median year homes were built (Georgia 1992, US 1980)
41%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
9.5%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; 23,562 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
Cherokee CountyModerate18
Bartow CountyLow18
Whitfield CountyModerate15
Floyd CountyModerate18
Walker CountyLow18
Murray CountyLow14
Pickens CountyVery Low21
Gilmer CountyLow19

Common questions about Gordon County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Gordon County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Gordon County, about $10.1 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Drought is second at $6.9 million.

How many federal disasters has Gordon County had?

Gordon County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 9 major disasters. The most recent was Hurricane Isaias in October 2026.

Is Gordon County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 30th 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 Gordon County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 200 homes in Gordon 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 Gordon County had?

NOAA records list 17 tornadoes in Gordon County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on April 3, 1974. The weather service has also logged 108 hail reports and 33 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Gordon County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 4 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Gordon 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.