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Pulaski County, Georgia

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

Very Low overall risk
115th of 159highest risk in Georgia
$5Mexpected losses a year
14federal declarations
1 in 167homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Pulaski County, Georgia has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 82% of US counties. It ranks 115th of 159 counties in Georgia. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, drought and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $4.6 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $504 per resident. Since 1977 it has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (8 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). Only 25 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $254,000 on 15 claims here.

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

Top risks in Pulaski County

$1.7 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.

Drought

Moderate
$721,446 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 47 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.

Strong wind

Moderate
$584,585 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low20.7
$2M
DroughtModerate82.6
$721K
Strong windModerate66.6
$585K
HurricaneLow74.3
$584K
Heat waveLow55.1
$318K
TornadoLow27.9
$298K
EarthquakeVery Low44.6
$135K
HailVery Low28.2
$73K
Cold waveVery Low11.3
$64K
LightningLow24.8
$59K
WildfireVery Low56.2
$45K
Ice stormVery Low6.8
$2K
Winter weatherVery Low2.7
$1K
LandslideVery Low8.2
$12

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 Pulaski County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Hurricane7
Severe Storm3
Drought1
Tornado1
Tropical Storm1
Winter Storm1

Most recent

Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
Sep 30, 2024Hurricane HeleneMajor disaster
Sep 26, 2024Hurricane HeleneEmergency
Oct 14, 2018Hurricane MichaelMajor disaster
Oct 10, 2018Hurricane MichaelEmergency
Sep 15, 2017Hurricane IrmaMajor disaster
Sep 8, 2017Hurricane IrmaEmergency
Apr 23, 2009Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Sep 5, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Sep 24, 2004Tropical Storm FrancesMajor disaster
Show all 14
Mar 11, 1998Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 7, 1994Tornadoes, Flooding Torrential Rain(Trop Storm Alberto)Major 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 1959

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 142 storm reports in Pulaski County since 1959, with 2 deaths and 2 injuries and about $3.1 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F1 tornado on April 27, 1964.

15tornadoes
27hail reports, largest 1.75 inches
84damaging thunderstorm winds
8floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 27, 1964F1–0 / 0
Mar 21, 1980F1–0 / 0
May 1, 1989F1–1 / 0
Apr 22, 1972F1–0 / 0
Nov 20, 1983F1–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 10, 2009Thunderstorm WindHawkinsville$350K
Apr 27, 1964Tornado–$250K
Mar 21, 1980Tornado–$250K
May 1, 1989Tornado–$250K
Jun 4, 1999HailCountywide$250K
Mar 27, 2005Flash FloodCountywide$250K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 10, 2024. 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, 9 hurricanes and 30 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Pulaski County, 11 of them since 1950. The strongest was Hurricane Helene (2024), with top winds near 90 mph about 48 miles away.

9hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
30tropical storms
2024most recent: Helene

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 27, 2024HeleneCategory 1, 90 mph48 mi
Oct 11, 2018MichaelCategory 1, 85 mph59 mi
Oct 9, 1894UnnamedCategory 1, 85 mph60 mi
Oct 2, 1898UnnamedCategory 1, 85 mph64 mi
Aug 24, 1851UnnamedCategory 1, 80 mph57 mi
Oct 10, 1852UnnamedCategory 1, 75 mph63 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 27, 2024HeleneCategory 1, 90 mph48 mi
Oct 11, 2018MichaelCategory 1, 85 mph59 mi
Sep 11, 2017IrmaTropical storm, 45 mph64 mi
Oct 6, 2005TammyTropical storm, 40 mph63 mi
Sep 27, 2004JeanneTropical storm, 40 mph50 mi
Sep 3, 1998EarlTropical storm, 50 mph54 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 Pulaski County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.6%of homes have federal flood insurance (25 policies)
11.9%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$254,324paid on 15 flood claims since 1978
2015costliest year, with $77,225 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 Pulaski County

$157,600median home value (Georgia $303,300, US $332,700)
1984median year homes were built (Georgia 1992, US 1980)
42%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
24%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; 4,583 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
Houston CountyLow15
Dodge CountyLow15
Bleckley CountyVery Low14
Dooly CountyVery Low15
Wilcox CountyVery Low16

Common questions about Pulaski County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Pulaski County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Pulaski County, about $1.7 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Drought is second at $721,446.

How many federal disasters has Pulaski County had?

Pulaski County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1977, including 8 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is Pulaski County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 115th 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 Pulaski County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 167 homes in Pulaski 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 Pulaski County had?

NOAA records list 15 tornadoes in Pulaski County since 1950. The strongest was an F1 tornado on April 27, 1964. The weather service has also logged 27 hail reports and 8 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Pulaski County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 9 hurricanes and 30 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Pulaski County. The strongest was Hurricane Helene (2024), with winds near 90 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.