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Johnson County, Georgia

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

Very Low overall risk
133rd of 159highest risk in Georgia
$3Mexpected losses a year
17federal declarations
1 in 1000homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Johnson County, Georgia has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 91% of US counties. It ranks 133rd of 159 counties in Georgia. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, drought and hurricanes. FEMA estimates about $2.8 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $304 per resident. Since 1977 it has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (9 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). Only 2 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 Johnson County

$877,678 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.

Drought

Moderate
$567,004 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 43 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
$316,348 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 7 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 floodingVery Low11.0
$878K
DroughtModerate79.7
$567K
HurricaneLow68.5
$316K
TornadoLow29.6
$307K
Heat waveLow48.8
$217K
EarthquakeVery Low51.7
$184K
Strong windLow20.6
$115K
LightningLow29.2
$65K
Cold waveVery Low11.0
$54K
HailVery Low20.8
$45K
Ice stormLow32.0
$22K
WildfireVery Low45.5
$22K
Winter weatherVery Low3.6
$1K
LandslideVery Low5.3
$5

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 very high 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 Johnson County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Hurricane7
Flood2
Severe Storm2
Severe Ice Storm2
Tropical Storm2
Drought1

Most recent

Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
Sep 30, 2024Hurricane HeleneMajor disaster
Sep 26, 2024Hurricane HeleneEmergency
Aug 5, 2024Hurricane DebbyEmergency
Oct 14, 2018Hurricane MichaelMajor disaster
Oct 10, 2018Hurricane MichaelEmergency
Sep 15, 2017Hurricane IrmaMajor disaster
Sep 8, 2017Hurricane IrmaEmergency
Mar 6, 2014Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Feb 11, 2014Severe Winter StormEmergency
Show all 17
May 23, 2008Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
Sep 5, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Sep 24, 2004Tropical Storm FrancesMajor disaster
Mar 11, 1998Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 15, 1991Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 19, 1990Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 20, 1977DroughtEmergency

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

Storm history since 1968

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 169 storm reports in Johnson County since 1968, with 0 deaths and 12 injuries and about $25.4 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF2 tornado on May 11, 2008 near Kite.

11tornadoes
36hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
104damaging thunderstorm winds
7floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 11, 2008EF2Kite4 / 0
May 11, 2008EF1Spann6 / 0
Jan 2, 2006F1Kite0 / 0
Apr 15, 2007EF1Scott0 / 0
Apr 15, 2007EF1Scott0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 11, 2008TornadoSpann$15M
May 11, 2008TornadoKite$7M
Jun 18, 2009Thunderstorm WindWrightsville$300K
Jan 2, 2006TornadoKite$250K
Apr 15, 2007TornadoScott$250K
Apr 15, 2007TornadoScott$250K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Mar 16, 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 1851, 5 hurricanes and 30 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Johnson County, 9 of them since 1950. The strongest was Hurricane Helene (2024), with top winds near 80 mph about 52 miles away.

5hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
30tropical storms
2024most recent: Helene

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 27, 2024HeleneCategory 1, 80 mph52 mi
Oct 9, 1894UnnamedCategory 1, 80 mph54 mi
Aug 28, 1881UnnamedCategory 1, 75 mph64 mi
Aug 28, 1949UnnamedCategory 1, 75 mph63 mi
Oct 2, 1898UnnamedCategory 1, 75 mph61 mi
Aug 24, 1851UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph53 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 27, 2024HeleneCategory 1, 80 mph52 mi
Jul 8, 2021ElsaTropical storm, 50 mph55 mi
Oct 11, 2018MichaelTropical storm, 70 mph61 mi
Jun 14, 2006AlbertoTropical storm, 40 mph63 mi
Nov 22, 1985KateTropical storm, 70 mph60 mi
Jun 7, 1968AbbyTropical storm, 40 mph62 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 Johnson County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (2 policies)
6.2%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$36,949paid on 2 flood claims since 1978
2015costliest year, with $36,634 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 Johnson County

$94,900median home value (Georgia $303,300, US $332,700)
1985median year homes were built (Georgia 1992, US 1980)
43%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
33.2%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; 3,560 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
Laurens CountyLow17
Emanuel CountyVery Low20
Washington CountyVery Low14
Jefferson CountyVery Low17
Wilkinson CountyVery Low14
Treutlen CountyVery Low17

Common questions about Johnson County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Johnson County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Johnson County, about $877,678 a year in FEMA's estimate. Drought is second at $567,004.

How many federal disasters has Johnson County had?

Johnson County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1977, including 9 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is Johnson County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 133rd 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 Johnson County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 1000 homes in Johnson 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 Johnson County had?

NOAA records list 11 tornadoes in Johnson County since 1950. The strongest was an EF2 tornado on May 11, 2008 near Kite. The weather service has also logged 36 hail reports and 7 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Johnson County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 5 hurricanes and 30 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Johnson County. The strongest was Hurricane Helene (2024), with winds near 80 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.