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Gwinnett County, Georgia

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

Relatively High overall risk
3rd of 159highest risk in Georgia
$211Mexpected losses a year
13federal declarations
1 in 250homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Gwinnett County, Georgia has a relatively high overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 95% of US counties. It ranks 3rd of 159 counties in Georgia. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $211 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $221 per resident. Since 1977 it has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (5 major disasters). The most recent was in October 2026 (Hurricane Isaias). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (989 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $10 million on 487 claims here, including $7.2 million for floods in 2009.

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

Top risks in Gwinnett County

$145 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.
$23.2 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.
$10.9 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 floodingHigh97.4
$145M
TornadoHigh97.5
$23M
Cold waveHigh93.5
$11M
EarthquakeModerate93.3
$10M
HailHigh98.0
$7M
Heat waveModerate93.0
$5M
LightningVery High98.7
$4M
Strong windHigh92.8
$3M
Ice stormHigh94.9
$2M
HurricaneLow71.4
$777K
DroughtLow56.0
$249K
Winter weatherModerate71.0
$154K
WildfireVery Low46.2
$42K
LandslideLow79.3
$16K

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 very low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Hurricane4
Severe Storm3
Tropical Storm2
Drought1
Snowstorm1
Severe Ice Storm1

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
Sep 24, 2009Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 5, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jan 28, 2000Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Mar 11, 1998Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 13
Oct 10, 1995Hurricane OpalMajor disaster
Mar 15, 1993Severe Snowfall, Winter StormEmergency
Jul 20, 1977DroughtEmergency

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

Storm history since 1956

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 713 storm reports in Gwinnett County since 1956, with 8 deaths and 47 injuries and about $151 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on June 27, 1994 near Grayson.

12tornadoes
190hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
327damaging thunderstorm winds
43floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 27, 1994F2Grayson0 / 1
Apr 8, 1998F2Norcross10 / 0
Nov 30, 2010EF2Hog Mtn0 / 0
Nov 10, 1984F2–8 / 0
Jan 29, 1970F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 8, 1998TornadoNorcross$50M
Sep 21, 2009FloodBuford$13M
Sep 21, 2009FloodBuford$6M
Jun 27, 1994TornadoGrayson$5M
Feb 21, 2005HailNorcross$5M
Sep 21, 2009FloodMechanicsville$5M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 18, 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 1859, 0 hurricanes and 9 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Gwinnett County, 3 of them since 1950. The strongest was Tropical Storm Helene (2024), with top winds near 65 mph about 64 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
9tropical storms
2024most recent: Helene

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 27, 2024HeleneTropical storm, 65 mph64 mi
Oct 29, 2020ZetaTropical storm, 60 mph61 mi
Sep 23, 1975EloiseTropical storm, 60 mph64 mi
Oct 3, 1893UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph60 mi
Sep 10, 1882UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph58 mi
Sep 16, 1859UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph51 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 27, 2024HeleneTropical storm, 65 mph64 mi
Oct 29, 2020ZetaTropical storm, 60 mph61 mi
Sep 23, 1975EloiseTropical storm, 60 mph64 mi
Sep 4, 1915UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph64 mi
Sep 15, 1903UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph61 mi
Jul 8, 1896UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph60 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 Gwinnett County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.4%of homes have federal flood insurance (989 policies)
63.1%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$10.4 millionpaid on 487 flood claims since 1978
2009costliest year, with $7.2 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 Gwinnett County

$380,900median home value (Georgia $303,300, US $332,700)
1996median year homes were built (Georgia 1992, US 1980)
14%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
1.3%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; 340,962 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
Fulton CountyHigh20
DeKalb CountyModerate16
Forsyth CountyModerate16
Hall CountyModerate18
Walton CountyLow12
Rockdale CountyLow15
Barrow CountyLow13
Jackson CountyVery Low13

Common questions about Gwinnett County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Gwinnett County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Gwinnett County, about $145 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $23.2 million.

How many federal disasters has Gwinnett County had?

Gwinnett County has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1977, including 5 major disasters. The most recent was Hurricane Isaias in October 2026.

Is Gwinnett County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively High, 3rd 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 Gwinnett County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 250 homes in Gwinnett 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 Gwinnett County had?

NOAA records list 12 tornadoes in Gwinnett County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on June 27, 1994 near Grayson. The weather service has also logged 190 hail reports and 43 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Gwinnett County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 9 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Gwinnett 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.