Macon County, Georgia
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Macon County, Georgia has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 68% of US counties. It ranks 87th of 159 counties in Georgia. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, hurricanes and drought. FEMA estimates about $5.9 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $491 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 October 2026 (Hurricane Isaias). Only 9 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 Macon County
- 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.
- 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.
- Check local water restrictions.
- Choose drought-tolerant plants.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 33.0 | $2M | ||
| Hurricane | 80.3 | $1M | ||
| Drought | 92.0 | $1M | ||
| Tornado | 34.6 | $379K | ||
| Hail | 69.3 | $310K | ||
| Heat wave | 53.5 | $252K | ||
| Strong wind | 29.1 | $162K | ||
| Cold wave | 21.2 | $142K | ||
| Earthquake | 46.1 | $129K | ||
| Lightning | 39.7 | $91K | ||
| Wildfire | 43.2 | $18K | ||
| Ice storm | 8.6 | $2K | ||
| Winter weather | 3.6 | $1K | ||
| Landslide | 22.2 | $84 |
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 Macon County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 14
Georgia also had 8 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1953
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 143 storm reports in Macon County since 1953, with 1 death and 16 injuries and about $4.6 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF3 tornado on March 1, 2007 near Oglethorpe.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 1, 2007 | EF3 | Oglethorpe | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 23, 1971 | F2 | – | 10 / 1 |
| Apr 18, 1953 | F2 | – | 1 / 0 |
| Apr 5, 1957 | F2 | – | 2 / 0 |
| Jan 20, 1963 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 21, 1980 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Jan 21, 2012 | Tornado | Oglethorpe | $300K |
| Jul 23, 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Marshallville | $275K |
| Apr 18, 1953 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Apr 5, 1957 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Jan 20, 1963 | Tornado | – | $250K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Mar 12, 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 24 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Macon County, 9 of them since 1950. The strongest was Hurricane Michael (2018), with top winds near 85 mph about 47 miles away.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 11, 2018 | Michael | Category 1, 85 mph | 47 mi |
| Sep 27, 2024 | Helene | Category 1, 85 mph | 60 mi |
| Aug 24, 1851 | Unnamed | Category 1, 85 mph | 64 mi |
| Aug 31, 1856 | Unnamed | Category 1, 75 mph | 64 mi |
| Oct 2, 1898 | Unnamed | Category 1, 75 mph | 64 mi |
| Oct 7, 1941 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 65 mph | 58 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 27, 2024 | Helene | Category 1, 85 mph | 60 mi |
| Oct 11, 2018 | Michael | Category 1, 85 mph | 47 mi |
| Sep 11, 2017 | Irma | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 55 mi |
| Sep 27, 2004 | Jeanne | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 57 mi |
| Sep 3, 1998 | Earl | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 64 mi |
| Jun 15, 1965 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 39 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 Macon County
Check your address flood zone ›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 Macon County
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; 5,135 housing units.
Compare in Georgia
All 159 ›| Largest counties | Overall risk | Top hazard |
|---|---|---|
| Fulton County | Inland flooding | |
| Gwinnett County | Inland flooding | |
| Cobb County | Inland flooding | |
| DeKalb County | Inland flooding | |
| Clayton County | Inland flooding | |
| Chatham County | Hurricane | |
| Cherokee County | Inland flooding | |
| Forsyth County | Inland flooding |
Neighboring counties
| County | Overall risk | Declarations |
|---|---|---|
| Houston County | 15 | |
| Sumter County | 13 | |
| Peach County | 15 | |
| Crawford County | 18 | |
| Dooly County | 15 | |
| Taylor County | 14 | |
| Schley County | 11 |
Common questions about Macon County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Macon County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Macon County, about $2.2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Hurricane is second at $1.1 million.
How many federal disasters has Macon County had?
Macon County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1977, including 7 major disasters. The most recent was Hurricane Isaias in October 2026.
Is Macon County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 87th 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 Macon County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 1000 homes in Macon 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 Macon County had?
NOAA records list 13 tornadoes in Macon County since 1950. The strongest was an EF3 tornado on March 1, 2007 near Oglethorpe. The weather service has also logged 21 hail reports and 6 floods here.
How many hurricanes have hit Macon County?
NOAA's hurricane records show 5 hurricanes and 24 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Macon County. The strongest was Hurricane Michael (2018), with winds near 85 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.