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McIntosh County, Georgia

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

Relatively Low overall risk
33rd of 159highest risk in Georgia
$17Mexpected losses a year
20federal declarations
1 in 13homes with flood insurance
Photo: CC0

McIntosh County, Georgia has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 67% of US counties. It ranks 33rd of 159 counties in Georgia. The costliest hazards here are hurricanes, inland flooding and coastal flooding. FEMA estimates about $17 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,542 per resident. Since 1977 it has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (9 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2024 (Hurricane Helene). About 1 in 13 homes here carry federal flood insurance (569 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.0 million on 66 claims here, including $868,000 for floods in 2017.

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

Top risks in McIntosh County

$13.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 3 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.
$1.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 6 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.
$721,775 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 4 times a year.
  • Learn your evacuation zone; it is set by surge risk, not by distance from the beach.
  • Ask about flood insurance even outside a mapped high-risk zone.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
HurricaneHigh94.7
$13M
Inland floodingVery Low18.1
$1M
Coastal floodingModerate70.2
$722K
WildfireLow87.2
$589K
Heat waveLow49.8
$240K
Strong windLow35.0
$229K
EarthquakeVery Low49.3
$174K
TornadoVery Low18.4
$138K
Cold waveVery Low16.1
$108K
LightningLow32.3
$78K
HailVery Low18.7
$43K
Ice stormLow37.1
$30K
Winter weatherVery Low8.8
$4K
LandslideVery Low12.3
$26

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 relatively moderate in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Hurricane10
Severe Storm3
Tropical Storm3
Freezing1
Drought1
Snowstorm1

Most recent

Sep 30, 2024Hurricane HeleneMajor disaster
Sep 26, 2024Hurricane HeleneEmergency
Sep 24, 2024Tropical Storm DebbyMajor disaster
Aug 5, 2024Hurricane DebbyEmergency
Sep 1, 2019Hurricane DorianEmergency
Oct 10, 2018Hurricane MichaelEmergency
Sep 15, 2017Hurricane IrmaMajor disaster
Sep 8, 2017Hurricane IrmaEmergency
Oct 8, 2016Hurricane MatthewMajor disaster
Oct 6, 2016Hurricane MatthewEmergency
Show all 20
Apr 23, 2009Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
May 23, 2008Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
Sep 5, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Sep 24, 2004Tropical Storm FrancesMajor disaster
May 23, 2001Ga - Blounts Pasture FireFire management
Sep 14, 1999Hurricane Floyd Emergency DeclarationsEmergency
Mar 11, 1998Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 15, 1993Severe Snowfall, Winter StormEmergency
Jul 20, 1977DroughtEmergency
Jun 2, 1977Shrimp Loss Due to Cold WeatherMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1959

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 210 storm reports in McIntosh County since 1959, with 0 deaths and 15 injuries and about $12.9 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF4 tornado on May 11, 2008 near Darien Eden Fld.

7tornadoes
57hail reports, largest 1.75 inches
138damaging thunderstorm winds
6floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 11, 2008EF4Darien Eden Fld9 / 0
Apr 13, 2009EF1Pine Harbor0 / 0
Jul 21, 1969F1–0 / 0
May 28, 1959F0–0 / 0
Nov 7, 1995F0Townsend0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 11, 2008TornadoDarien Eden Fld$13M
Jun 18, 2009Thunderstorm WindBelleview Pt$70K
Jun 25, 1994Thunderstorm WindDarien$50K
Apr 13, 2009TornadoPine Harbor$35K
Apr 5, 2011Thunderstorm WindEulonia$35K
Sep 11, 2017Flash FloodDarien$25K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 7, 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 1853, 22 hurricanes and 57 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of McIntosh County, 27 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1898, with top winds near 130 mph about 62 miles away.

22hurricanes
4major hurricanes (Category 3+)
57tropical storms
2024most recent: Debby

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 2, 1898UnnamedCategory 4, 130 mph62 mi
Oct 13, 1893UnnamedCategory 3, 120 mph58 mi
Sep 8, 1854UnnamedCategory 3, 120 mph63 mi
Aug 28, 1893UnnamedCategory 3, 115 mph60 mi
Oct 8, 2016MatthewCategory 2, 105 mph63 mi
Sep 29, 1896UnnamedCategory 2, 105 mph57 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 6, 2024DebbyTropical storm, 50 mph65 mi
Aug 30, 2023IdaliaTropical storm, 65 mph53 mi
Nov 12, 2020EtaTropical storm, 45 mph59 mi
Oct 8, 2016MatthewCategory 2, 105 mph63 mi
Sep 14, 2016JuliaTropical storm, 45 mph61 mi
Sep 2, 2016HermineTropical storm, 60 mph55 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 McIntosh County

Check your address flood zone ›
7.9%of homes have federal flood insurance (569 policies)
36.4%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1 millionpaid on 66 flood claims since 1978
2017costliest year, with $868,336 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 McIntosh County

$182,700median home value (Georgia $303,300, US $332,700)
1997median year homes were built (Georgia 1992, US 1980)
22%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
35.4%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; 6,850 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
Glynn CountyModerate18
Liberty CountyModerate16
Wayne CountyLow17
Long CountyVery Low16

Common questions about McIntosh County

What is the biggest natural hazard in McIntosh County?

Hurricane has the highest expected yearly losses in McIntosh County, about $13.1 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $1.4 million.

How many federal disasters has McIntosh County had?

McIntosh County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1977, including 9 major disasters. The most recent was Hurricane Helene in September 2024.

Is McIntosh County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 33rd 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 McIntosh County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 13 homes in McIntosh 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 McIntosh County had?

NOAA records list 7 tornadoes in McIntosh County since 1950. The strongest was an EF4 tornado on May 11, 2008 near Darien Eden Fld. The weather service has also logged 57 hail reports and 6 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit McIntosh County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 22 hurricanes and 57 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of McIntosh County, including 4 major hurricanes (Category 3 or stronger). The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1898, with winds near 130 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.