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Lumpkin County, Georgia

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

Relatively Low overall risk
65th of 159highest risk in Georgia
$13Mexpected losses a year
22federal declarations
1 in 500homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Lumpkin County, Georgia has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 55% of US counties. It ranks 65th of 159 counties in Georgia. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, lightning and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $13 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $393 per resident. Since 1974 it has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (14 major disasters). The most recent was in October 2026 (Hurricane Isaias). Only 23 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $261,000 on 18 claims here.

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

Top risks in Lumpkin County

$6.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 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.

Lightning

Very High
$2.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 61 times a year.
  • Go indoors when you hear thunder.
  • Use surge protectors for electronics.
$1.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 6 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 floodingLow50.5
$6M
LightningVery High97.6
$3M
TornadoLow61.7
$2M
Cold waveLow60.1
$1M
EarthquakeVery Low57.6
$376K
Strong windLow35.8
$332K
HailLow43.0
$186K
Ice stormModerate64.3
$150K
DroughtLow50.1
$135K
HurricaneVery Low43.1
$37K
WildfireVery Low46.0
$34K
Heat waveVery Low14.5
$31K
LandslideLow78.1
$12K
Winter weatherVery Low14.8
$11K

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 moderate 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 Lumpkin County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Hurricane7
Severe Storm4
Tornado3
Severe Ice Storm2
Tropical Storm2
Flood1

Most recent

Oct 9, 2026Hurricane IsaiasEmergency
Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
Sep 30, 2024Hurricane HeleneMajor disaster
Sep 26, 2024Hurricane HeleneEmergency
May 5, 2021Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jan 12, 2021Tropical Storm ZetaMajor disaster
Sep 15, 2017Hurricane IrmaMajor disaster
Sep 8, 2017Hurricane IrmaEmergency
Apr 20, 2015Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Feb 11, 2014Severe Winter StormEmergency
Show all 22
Apr 29, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Associated FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 5, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Sep 18, 2004Hurricane IvanMajor disaster
Jan 28, 2000Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
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
Dec 1, 1992High Winds, Heavy Rains & TornadoesMajor disaster
Jul 20, 1977DroughtEmergency
Jun 11, 1976Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 5, 1974TornadoesMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1963

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 173 storm reports in Lumpkin County since 1963, with 1 death and 74 injuries and about $8.7 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on April 3, 1974.

11tornadoes
50hail reports, largest 3 inches
92damaging thunderstorm winds
14floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 3, 1974F4–0 / 0
Nov 22, 1992F3–7 / 1
Apr 27, 2011EF2Walnut1 / 0
Nov 7, 1996F1Dahlonega12 / 0
Apr 11, 2013EF1Albert0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Nov 22, 1992Tornado–$3M
Apr 3, 1974Tornado–$3M
Apr 27, 2011TornadoWalnut$750K
Jun 16, 2010Thunderstorm WindPorter Spgs$500K
Nov 7, 1996TornadoDahlonega$400K
Apr 11, 2013TornadoAlbert$300K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 26, 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 5 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Lumpkin County, 3 of them since 1950. The strongest was Tropical Storm Zeta (2020), with top winds near 60 mph about 52 miles away.

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

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 29, 2020ZetaTropical storm, 60 mph52 mi
Sep 27, 2024HeleneTropical storm, 55 mph55 mi
Sep 23, 1975EloiseTropical storm, 55 mph57 mi
Sep 16, 1859UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph63 mi
Sep 5, 1915UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph61 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 27, 2024HeleneTropical storm, 55 mph55 mi
Oct 29, 2020ZetaTropical storm, 60 mph52 mi
Sep 23, 1975EloiseTropical storm, 55 mph57 mi
Sep 5, 1915UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph61 mi
Sep 16, 1859UnnamedTropical 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 Lumpkin County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (23 policies)
11.1%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$261,384paid on 18 flood claims since 1978
2026costliest year, with $114,556 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 Lumpkin County

$307,900median home value (Georgia $303,300, US $332,700)
1998median year homes were built (Georgia 1992, US 1980)
16%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
16.7%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; 13,539 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
Hall CountyModerate18
White CountyLow20
Dawson CountyVery Low18
Fannin CountyLow17
Union CountyLow15

Common questions about Lumpkin County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Lumpkin County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Lumpkin County, about $6.3 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Lightning is second at $2.5 million.

How many federal disasters has Lumpkin County had?

Lumpkin County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1974, including 14 major disasters. The most recent was Hurricane Isaias in October 2026.

Is Lumpkin County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 65th 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 Lumpkin County?

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

NOAA records list 11 tornadoes in Lumpkin County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on April 3, 1974. The weather service has also logged 50 hail reports and 14 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Lumpkin County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 5 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Lumpkin County. The strongest was Tropical Storm Zeta (2020), 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.