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Mitchell County, Georgia

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

Relatively Low overall risk
40th of 159highest risk in Georgia
$15Mexpected losses a year
17federal declarations
1 in 67homes with flood insurance
Photo: CC0

Mitchell County, Georgia has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 63% of US counties. It ranks 40th of 159 counties in Georgia. The costliest hazards here are hurricanes, inland flooding and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $15 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $711 per resident. Since 1974 it has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (10 major disasters). The most recent was in October 2026 (Hurricane Isaias). About 1 in 67 homes here carry federal flood insurance (142 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $2.1 million on 100 claims here, including $792,000 for floods in 1998.

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

Top risks in Mitchell County

Hurricane

Moderate
$4.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 5 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.
$4.8 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.

Tornado

Moderate
$2.9 million 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
HurricaneModerate89.8
$5M
Inland floodingLow52.8
$5M
TornadoModerate81.6
$3M
Cold waveLow61.9
$1M
DroughtModerate78.2
$559K
Strong windLow47.6
$342K
HailLow60.1
$256K
LightningModerate62.5
$245K
Heat waveLow48.4
$232K
EarthquakeVery Low47.4
$163K
WildfireVery Low56.1
$45K
Winter weatherVery Low20.2
$12K
Ice stormVery Low14.6
$6K
LandslideVery Low11.2
$22

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 Mitchell County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Hurricane6
Severe Storm5
Tropical Storm3
Tornado2
Drought1

Most recent

Oct 9, 2026Hurricane IsaiasEmergency
Sep 30, 2024Hurricane HeleneMajor disaster
Sep 26, 2024Hurricane HeleneEmergency
Aug 5, 2024Hurricane DebbyEmergency
Oct 14, 2018Hurricane MichaelMajor disaster
Oct 10, 2018Hurricane MichaelEmergency
Sep 15, 2017Hurricane IrmaMajor disaster
Sep 8, 2017Hurricane IrmaEmergency
Jan 25, 2017Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Apr 23, 2009Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Show all 17
Mar 3, 2007Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
Sep 5, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Feb 15, 2000Severe Storms/TornadosMajor disaster
Mar 11, 1998Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 7, 1994Tornadoes, Flooding Torrential Rain(Trop Storm Alberto)Major disaster
Jul 20, 1977DroughtEmergency
Apr 5, 1974TornadoesMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1952

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 320 storm reports in Mitchell County since 1952, with 17 deaths and 401 injuries and about $46.3 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on February 13, 2000 near Camilla.

28tornadoes
30hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
219damaging thunderstorm winds
36floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Feb 13, 2000F3Camilla175 / 11
Mar 20, 2003F3Camilla200 / 4
Feb 14, 2000F3Camilla1 / 1
Mar 2, 2007EF2Baconton0 / 0
Jan 12, 1975F2–15 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Feb 13, 2000TornadoCamilla$22M
Jan 2, 2017TornadoBaconton$8M
Mar 20, 2003TornadoCamilla$6M
Mar 2, 2007TornadoBaconton$3M
Jan 12, 1975Tornado–$3M
Feb 14, 2000TornadoCamilla$1M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 29, 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, 13 hurricanes and 41 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Mitchell County, 19 of them since 1950. The strongest was Hurricane Michael (2018), with top winds near 125 mph about 52 miles away.

13hurricanes
2major hurricanes (Category 3+)
41tropical storms
2024most recent: Helene

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 10, 2018MichaelCategory 3, 125 mph52 mi
Sep 27, 2024HeleneCategory 3, 120 mph61 mi
Oct 9, 1894UnnamedCategory 2, 100 mph57 mi
Aug 24, 1851UnnamedCategory 2, 100 mph51 mi
Oct 9, 1852UnnamedCategory 2, 95 mph65 mi
Jun 21, 1886UnnamedCategory 1, 90 mph54 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 27, 2024HeleneCategory 3, 120 mph61 mi
Nov 11, 2022NicoleTropical storm, 40 mph53 mi
Sep 9, 2021MindyTropical storm, 45 mph60 mi
Oct 10, 2018MichaelCategory 3, 125 mph52 mi
Sep 11, 2017IrmaTropical storm, 55 mph62 mi
Sep 2, 2016HermineCategory 1, 75 mph62 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 Mitchell County

Check your address flood zone ›
1.5%of homes have federal flood insurance (142 policies)
13.2%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$2.1 millionpaid on 100 flood claims since 1978
1998costliest year, with $791,626 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 Mitchell County

$106,000median home value (Georgia $303,300, US $332,700)
1978median year homes were built (Georgia 1992, US 1980)
53%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
20.8%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; 9,028 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
Dougherty CountyModerate16
Colquitt CountyLow19
Thomas CountyLow19
Decatur CountyLow18
Grady CountyLow16
Worth CountyVery Low18
Baker CountyVery Low18

Common questions about Mitchell County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Mitchell County?

Hurricane has the highest expected yearly losses in Mitchell County, about $4.9 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $4.8 million.

How many federal disasters has Mitchell County had?

Mitchell County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1974, including 10 major disasters. The most recent was Hurricane Isaias in October 2026.

Is Mitchell County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 40th 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 Mitchell County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 67 homes in Mitchell 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 Mitchell County had?

NOAA records list 28 tornadoes in Mitchell County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on February 13, 2000 near Camilla. The weather service has also logged 30 hail reports and 36 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Mitchell County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 13 hurricanes and 41 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Mitchell County, including 2 major hurricanes (Category 3 or stronger). The strongest was Hurricane Michael (2018), with winds near 125 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.