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Meriwether County, Georgia

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

Very Low overall risk
112th of 159highest risk in Georgia
$5Mexpected losses a year
16federal declarations
1 in 1000homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Meriwether County, Georgia has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 81% of US counties. It ranks 112th of 159 counties in Georgia. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and drought. FEMA estimates about $4.8 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $235 per resident. Since 1977 it has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (9 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 Meriwether County

$2.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 3 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.
$718,347 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 3 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.

Drought

Moderate
$255,340 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 53 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow35.3
$3M
TornadoLow45.1
$718K
DroughtModerate64.2
$255K
Strong windLow35.8
$243K
EarthquakeVery Low50.0
$188K
Heat waveLow42.5
$176K
HailLow46.2
$154K
LightningLow41.6
$116K
HurricaneVery Low53.8
$74K
Cold waveVery Low8.3
$39K
Ice stormLow37.2
$31K
WildfireVery Low44.7
$23K
Winter weatherVery Low6.0
$3K
LandslideVery Low21.0
$87

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 low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm4
Hurricane4
Tornado2
Severe Ice Storm2
Tropical Storm2
Drought1

Most recent

Oct 9, 2026Hurricane IsaiasEmergency
Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
Sep 26, 2024Hurricane HeleneEmergency
Jan 16, 2023Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Sep 15, 2017Hurricane IrmaMajor disaster
Sep 8, 2017Hurricane IrmaEmergency
Feb 26, 2016Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 6, 2014Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Feb 11, 2014Severe Winter StormEmergency
Apr 29, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Associated FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 16
Sep 5, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Oct 10, 1995Hurricane OpalMajor disaster
Jul 7, 1994Tornadoes, Flooding Torrential Rain(Trop Storm Alberto)Major disaster
Mar 4, 1993Tornadoes, High Winds & Heavy RainsMajor disaster
Feb 23, 1990Severe Storms, Tornaodes & FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 20, 1977DroughtEmergency

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

Storm history since 1954

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 230 storm reports in Meriwether County since 1954, with 0 deaths and 40 injuries and about $28.6 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on December 5, 1954.

25tornadoes
48hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
143damaging thunderstorm winds
8floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Dec 5, 1954F3–2 / 0
Mar 26, 2023EF3Cameo5 / 0
Apr 27, 2011EF2County Line0 / 0
Apr 27, 2011EF2Alvaton0 / 0
Mar 18, 2013EF2Rocky Mt0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 27, 2011TornadoCounty Line$6M
Dec 29, 2024TornadoDurand$6M
Feb 22, 1993TornadoSt. Marks To$5M
May 8, 2003Flash FloodCountywide$5M
Apr 13, 1980Tornado–$3M
May 13, 1993HailWarm Springs$500K

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 1852, 0 hurricanes and 18 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Meriwether County, 3 of them since 1950. The strongest was Tropical Storm Eloise (1975), with top winds near 70 mph about 60 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
18tropical storms
2017most recent: Irma

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 23, 1975EloiseTropical storm, 70 mph60 mi
Sep 10, 1882UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph53 mi
Oct 3, 1898UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph64 mi
Jul 8, 1896UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph62 mi
Oct 3, 1893UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph53 mi
Sep 23, 1889UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph50 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 12, 2017IrmaTropical storm, 35 mph56 mi
Sep 23, 1975EloiseTropical storm, 70 mph60 mi
Jun 15, 1965UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph57 mi
Aug 12, 1940UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph56 mi
Jul 29, 1926UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph63 mi
Sep 4, 1915UnnamedTropical storm, 50 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 Meriwether County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (9 policies)
8.3%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$0paid on 0 flood claims since 1978
n/acostliest 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 Meriwether County

$168,800median home value (Georgia $303,300, US $332,700)
1983median year homes were built (Georgia 1992, US 1980)
45%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
23.2%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; 9,820 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
Coweta CountyLow14
Troup CountyLow13
Spalding CountyVery Low17
Harris CountyVery Low13
Upson CountyVery Low21
Pike CountyVery Low20
Talbot CountyVery Low15

Common questions about Meriwether County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Meriwether County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Meriwether County, about $2.8 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $718,347.

How many federal disasters has Meriwether County had?

Meriwether County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1977, including 9 major disasters. The most recent was Hurricane Isaias in October 2026.

Is Meriwether County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 112th 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 Meriwether County?

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

NOAA records list 25 tornadoes in Meriwether County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on December 5, 1954. The weather service has also logged 48 hail reports and 8 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Meriwether County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 18 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Meriwether County. The strongest was Tropical Storm Eloise (1975), 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.