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Greene County, Georgia

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

Very Low overall risk
79th of 159highest risk in Georgia
$9Mexpected losses a year
14federal declarations
1 in 500homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Greene County, Georgia has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 63% of US counties. It ranks 79th of 159 counties in Georgia. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and hurricanes. FEMA estimates about $8.8 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $469 per resident. Since 1977 it has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (7 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). Only 26 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 Greene County

$5.7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 4 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.
$714,064 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.
$601,815 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 15 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow54.4
$6M
TornadoLow42.3
$714K
HurricaneLow73.4
$602K
Cold waveLow33.2
$369K
EarthquakeVery Low58.6
$317K
Heat waveLow50.9
$292K
Strong windLow35.4
$267K
HailLow50.7
$202K
Ice stormModerate66.9
$140K
DroughtLow53.0
$135K
WildfireVery Low57.6
$55K
LightningVery Low18.5
$48K
Winter weatherVery Low8.2
$5K
LandslideVery Low29.7
$226

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 Greene County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Hurricane6
Severe Storm3
Drought1
Tornado1
Severe Ice Storm1
Tropical Storm1

Most recent

Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
Sep 30, 2024Hurricane HeleneMajor disaster
Sep 26, 2024Hurricane HeleneEmergency
Oct 10, 2018Hurricane MichaelEmergency
Sep 15, 2017Hurricane IrmaMajor disaster
Sep 8, 2017Hurricane IrmaEmergency
Feb 26, 2016Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 11, 2014Severe Winter StormEmergency
Apr 29, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Associated FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 5, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Show all 14
Sep 24, 2004Tropical Storm FrancesMajor disaster
Jan 28, 2000Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Dec 1, 1992High Winds, Heavy Rains & TornadoesMajor disaster
Jul 20, 1977DroughtEmergency

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

Storm history since 1965

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 156 storm reports in Greene County since 1965, with 1 death and 31 injuries and about $6.8 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on November 22, 1992.

5tornadoes
34hail reports, largest 2 inches
104damaging thunderstorm winds
7floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Nov 22, 1992F4–31 / 1
Mar 23, 1965F2–0 / 0
Apr 28, 2011EF1Greshamville0 / 0
Apr 13, 2020EF1Ruth0 / 0
Aug 17, 2021EF1Carey0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Nov 22, 1992Tornado–$3M
Jan 7, 1998Thunderstorm WindGreensboro$2M
Apr 28, 2011TornadoGreshamville$750K
Apr 13, 2020TornadoRuth$500K
Jun 13, 2001Flash FloodCountywide$150K
Jun 15, 2010Thunderstorm WindGreensboro$150K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 20, 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 1852, 0 hurricanes and 13 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Greene County, 4 of them since 1950. The strongest was Tropical Storm Helene (2024), with top winds near 70 mph about 47 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
13tropical storms
2024most recent: Helene

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 27, 2024HeleneTropical storm, 70 mph47 mi
Aug 28, 1949UnnamedTropical storm, 65 mph63 mi
Oct 11, 2018MichaelTropical storm, 60 mph54 mi
Oct 3, 1893UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph61 mi
Sep 24, 1889UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph42 mi
Jun 22, 1886UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph56 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 27, 2024HeleneTropical storm, 70 mph47 mi
Oct 11, 2018MichaelTropical storm, 60 mph54 mi
Jun 15, 1965UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph59 mi
Aug 30, 1964CleoTropical storm, 40 mph63 mi
Aug 28, 1949UnnamedTropical storm, 65 mph63 mi
Aug 12, 1940UnnamedTropical 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 Greene County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (26 policies)
12.5%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$5,839paid on 2 flood claims since 1978
2018costliest year, with $5,839 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 Greene County

$394,800median home value (Georgia $303,300, US $332,700)
1997median year homes were built (Georgia 1992, US 1980)
28%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
11.6%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; 10,830 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
Oconee CountyVery Low12
Putnam CountyLow13
Morgan CountyVery Low11
Oglethorpe CountyVery Low13
Hancock CountyVery Low13
Taliaferro CountyVery Low14

Common questions about Greene County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Greene County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Greene County, about $5.7 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $714,064.

How many federal disasters has Greene County had?

Greene County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1977, including 7 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is Greene County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 79th 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 Greene County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 500 homes in Greene 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 Greene County had?

NOAA records list 5 tornadoes in Greene County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on November 22, 1992. The weather service has also logged 34 hail reports and 7 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Greene County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 13 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Greene County. The strongest was Tropical Storm Helene (2024), with winds near 70 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.