Monroe County, Georgia
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Monroe 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 113th of 159 counties in Georgia. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and heat waves. FEMA estimates about $6.8 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $246 per resident. Since 1977 it has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (11 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (62 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $3.0 million on 61 claims here, including $2.3 million for floods in 1994.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Monroe 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.
- 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.
- Check that cooling works before summer.
- Know where the nearest cooling center is.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 32.0 | $4M | ||
| Tornado | 42.1 | $924K | ||
| Heat wave | 56.8 | $501K | ||
| Strong wind | 42.6 | $435K | ||
| Hurricane | 64.2 | $319K | ||
| Earthquake | 49.3 | $262K | ||
| Hail | 47.5 | $232K | ||
| Lightning | 42.5 | $174K | ||
| Drought | 51.3 | $155K | ||
| Cold wave | 12.8 | $117K | ||
| Wildfire | 53.4 | $56K | ||
| Ice storm | 28.1 | $28K | ||
| Winter weather | 4.6 | $3K | ||
| Landslide | 38.2 | $571 |
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 moderate 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 Monroe County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 19
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 239 storm reports in Monroe County since 1952, with 0 deaths and 13 injuries and about $20.3 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF3 tornado on April 13, 2020 near Collier.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 13, 2020 | EF3 | Collier | 1 / 0 |
| Apr 28, 2011 | EF2 | Socrates | 10 / 0 |
| Nov 22, 1992 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 3, 2017 | EF1 | Smarr | 0 / 0 |
| Jan 1, 2021 | EF1 | Bolingbroke | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 13, 2020 | Tornado | Collier | $10M |
| Apr 28, 2011 | Tornado | Socrates | $5M |
| Aug 5, 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | Higgins Mill | $500K |
| May 11, 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Dyas | $500K |
| Mar 28, 2009 | Flood | Higgins Mill | $500K |
| Jan 2, 2006 | Hail | Brent | $300K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through May 3, 2025. 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, 2 hurricanes and 15 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Monroe County, 3 of them since 1950. The strongest was Hurricane Helene (2024), with top winds near 75 mph about 63 miles away.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 27, 2024 | Helene | Category 1, 75 mph | 63 mi |
| Oct 11, 2018 | Michael | Category 1, 75 mph | 60 mi |
| Aug 24, 1851 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 70 mph | 63 mi |
| Oct 3, 1898 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 65 mph | 65 mi |
| Sep 10, 1882 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 56 mi |
| Jul 8, 1896 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 55 mph | 61 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 27, 2024 | Helene | Category 1, 75 mph | 63 mi |
| Oct 11, 2018 | Michael | Category 1, 75 mph | 60 mi |
| Jun 15, 1965 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 52 mi |
| Aug 12, 1940 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 57 mi |
| Sep 15, 1903 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 63 mi |
| Sep 18, 1901 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 57 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 Monroe 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 Monroe 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; 11,577 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Bibb County | 14 | |
| Jones County | 15 | |
| Upson County | 21 | |
| Butts County | 17 | |
| Lamar County | 17 | |
| Jasper County | 15 | |
| Crawford County | 18 |
Common questions about Monroe County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Monroe County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Monroe County, about $3.6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $924,159.
How many federal disasters has Monroe County had?
Monroe County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1977, including 11 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.
Is Monroe County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 113th 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 Monroe County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 167 homes in Monroe 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 Monroe County had?
NOAA records list 19 tornadoes in Monroe County since 1950. The strongest was an EF3 tornado on April 13, 2020 near Collier. The weather service has also logged 47 hail reports and 10 floods here.
How many hurricanes have hit Monroe County?
NOAA's hurricane records show 2 hurricanes and 15 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Monroe County. The strongest was Hurricane Helene (2024), with winds near 75 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.