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Muscogee County, Georgia

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

Relatively Moderate overall risk
15th of 159highest risk in Georgia
$39Mexpected losses a year
12federal declarations
1 in 125homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Muscogee County, Georgia has a moderate overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 82% of US counties. It ranks 15th of 159 counties in Georgia. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, heat waves and hurricanes. FEMA estimates about $39 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $189 per resident. Since 1990 it has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (6 major disasters). The most recent was in October 2026 (Hurricane Isaias). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (472 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $2.3 million on 243 claims here.

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

Top risks in Muscogee County

$25.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 1 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.

Heat wave

Moderate
$2.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 6 times a year.
  • Check that cooling works before summer.
  • Know where the nearest cooling center is.

Hurricane

Moderate
$2.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 10 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingModerate87.3
$26M
Heat waveModerate91.0
$3M
HurricaneModerate82.3
$2M
EarthquakeLow84.4
$2M
TornadoModerate71.3
$2M
LightningHigh94.1
$1M
Strong windModerate75.5
$975K
HailModerate81.2
$827K
Cold waveVery Low13.6
$114K
Ice stormLow58.0
$105K
WildfireVery Low61.1
$78K
Winter weatherLow27.0
$22K
DroughtVery Low26.0
$13K
LandslideLow73.8
$7K

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 Muscogee County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Hurricane5
Severe Storm4
Tropical Storm2
Winter Storm1

Most recent

Oct 9, 2026Hurricane IsaiasEmergency
Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
Sep 26, 2024Hurricane HeleneEmergency
Oct 10, 2018Hurricane MichaelEmergency
Sep 15, 2017Hurricane IrmaMajor disaster
Sep 8, 2017Hurricane IrmaEmergency
Feb 26, 2016Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 3, 2007Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
Sep 5, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Mar 11, 1998Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 12
Oct 10, 1995Hurricane OpalMajor disaster
Feb 23, 1990Severe Storms, Tornaodes & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1953

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 348 storm reports in Muscogee County since 1953, with 3 deaths and 329 injuries and about $71.2 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on April 18, 1953.

18tornadoes
75hail reports, largest 3 inches
221damaging thunderstorm winds
24floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 18, 1953F3–300 / 2
Mar 3, 2019EF3Double Churches0 / 0
Mar 31, 1961F3–0 / 0
Mar 1, 2007EF2Bibb City1 / 0
May 1, 1978F2–3 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Mar 1, 2007TornadoBibb City$28M
Apr 18, 1953Tornado–$25M
Apr 19, 2009TornadoColumbus$3M
Mar 18, 2013HailAvondale$3M
May 16, 1966Tornado–$3M
May 1, 1978Tornado–$3M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Mar 16, 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, 2 hurricanes and 22 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Muscogee County, 6 of them since 1950. The strongest was Hurricane Michael (2018), with top winds near 85 mph about 65 miles away.

2hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
22tropical storms
2021most recent: Fred

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 11, 2018MichaelCategory 1, 85 mph65 mi
Sep 23, 1975EloiseCategory 1, 80 mph54 mi
Sep 10, 1882UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph56 mi
Jul 8, 1896UnnamedTropical storm, 65 mph56 mi
Oct 3, 1898UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph61 mi
Oct 3, 1893UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph60 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 17, 2021FredTropical storm, 40 mph64 mi
Oct 11, 2018MichaelCategory 1, 85 mph65 mi
Sep 11, 2017IrmaTropical storm, 45 mph65 mi
Sep 23, 1975EloiseCategory 1, 80 mph54 mi
Jun 15, 1965UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph52 mi
Oct 19, 1950KingTropical storm, 40 mph60 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 Muscogee County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.8%of homes have federal flood insurance (472 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$2.3 millionpaid on 243 flood claims since 1978
2013costliest year, with $425,961 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 Muscogee County

$193,900median 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
1.6%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; 92,031 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
Lee County, ALLow20
Russell County, ALLow22
Harris CountyVery Low13
Chattahoochee CountyVery Low10
Talbot CountyVery Low15

Cities in Muscogee County

Common questions about Muscogee County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Muscogee County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Muscogee County, about $25.8 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Heat wave is second at $2.8 million.

How many federal disasters has Muscogee County had?

Muscogee County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1990, including 6 major disasters. The most recent was Hurricane Isaias in October 2026.

Is Muscogee County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 15th 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 Muscogee County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 125 homes in Muscogee 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 Muscogee County had?

NOAA records list 18 tornadoes in Muscogee County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on April 18, 1953. The weather service has also logged 75 hail reports and 24 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Muscogee County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 2 hurricanes and 22 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Muscogee County. The strongest was Hurricane Michael (2018), with winds near 85 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.