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McDuffie County, Georgia

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

Very Low overall risk
98th of 159highest risk in Georgia
$6Mexpected losses a year
13federal declarations
1 in 1000homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

McDuffie County, Georgia has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 75% of US counties. It ranks 98th of 159 counties in Georgia. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and hail. FEMA estimates about $6.2 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $288 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 January 2026 (severe winter storm). 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 McDuffie County

$2.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 9 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.
$1.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 7 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.

Hail

Moderate
$609,779 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 3 times a year.
  • Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
  • Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low28.2
$2M
TornadoLow60.0
$1M
HailModerate78.9
$610K
EarthquakeLow64.7
$440K
Strong windLow40.8
$313K
HurricaneLow65.3
$267K
Heat waveLow45.6
$221K
Cold waveVery Low23.0
$206K
Ice stormModerate69.7
$160K
DroughtLow52.0
$123K
LightningLow32.6
$89K
WildfireVery Low60.0
$62K
Winter weatherVery Low11.9
$7K
LandslideVery Low9.9
$20

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 low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Hurricane5
Severe Ice Storm2
Drought1
Flood1
Snowstorm1
Severe 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
Mar 6, 2014Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Feb 11, 2014Severe Winter StormEmergency
Mar 3, 2007Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
Sep 5, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Show all 13
Mar 15, 1993Severe Snowfall, Winter StormEmergency
Oct 19, 1990Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 20, 1977DroughtEmergency

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

Storm history since 1955

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 154 storm reports in McDuffie County since 1955, with 3 deaths and 16 injuries and about $3.2 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF2 tornado on March 1, 2007 near Thomson.

8tornadoes
41hail reports, largest 1.75 inches
98damaging thunderstorm winds
4floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Mar 1, 2007EF2Thomson0 / 0
Feb 2, 1973F1–0 / 0
Jan 12, 2023EF1Thomson0 / 0
May 24, 1955F0–0 / 3
Apr 10, 2009EF0Boneville0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 22, 1997Thunderstorm WindThomson$3M
Apr 10, 2009TornadoBoneville$72K
Feb 18, 2009TornadoThmson Mcduffee Arpt$50K
Jul 1, 2012HailThomson$30K
May 14, 1995Thunderstorm WindThomson$25K
Jul 27, 2010Thunderstorm WindThomson$24K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through May 23, 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, 0 hurricanes and 23 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of McDuffie County, 5 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1854, with top winds near 70 mph about 63 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
23tropical storms
2024most recent: Helene

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 9, 1854UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph63 mi
Sep 27, 2024HeleneTropical storm, 70 mph54 mi
Aug 28, 1949UnnamedTropical storm, 65 mph54 mi
Aug 24, 1851UnnamedTropical storm, 65 mph59 mi
Aug 31, 1856UnnamedTropical storm, 65 mph61 mi
Sep 5, 1935UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph60 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 27, 2024HeleneTropical storm, 70 mph54 mi
Jul 8, 2021ElsaTropical storm, 45 mph61 mi
Oct 11, 2018MichaelTropical storm, 60 mph63 mi
Sep 16, 2018FlorenceTropical storm, 40 mph64 mi
Aug 29, 1964CleoTropical storm, 45 mph65 mi
Aug 28, 1949UnnamedTropical storm, 65 mph54 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 McDuffie County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (9 policies)
33.3%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$0paid on 1 flood claims since 1978
2022costliest year

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 McDuffie County

$170,200median home value (Georgia $303,300, US $332,700)
1985median year homes were built (Georgia 1992, US 1980)
41%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
24.4%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; 9,510 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
Richmond CountyModerate13
Columbia CountyLow12
Jefferson CountyVery Low17
Wilkes CountyVery Low15
Lincoln CountyVery Low11
Warren CountyVery Low11

Common questions about McDuffie County

What is the biggest natural hazard in McDuffie County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in McDuffie County, about $2.4 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $1.3 million.

How many federal disasters has McDuffie County had?

McDuffie County has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1977, including 5 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is McDuffie County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 98th 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 McDuffie County?

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

NOAA records list 8 tornadoes in McDuffie County since 1950. The strongest was an EF2 tornado on March 1, 2007 near Thomson. The weather service has also logged 41 hail reports and 4 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit McDuffie County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 23 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of McDuffie County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1854, 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.