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Rockdale County, Georgia

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

Relatively Low overall risk
46th of 159highest risk in Georgia
$22Mexpected losses a year
15federal declarations
1 in 333homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Rockdale County, Georgia has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 56% of US counties. It ranks 46th of 159 counties in Georgia. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $22 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $234 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (7 major disasters). The most recent was in October 2026 (Hurricane Isaias). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (93 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.5 million on 70 claims here, including $891,000 for floods in 2009.

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

Top risks in Rockdale County

$11.7 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.

Tornado

Moderate
$3.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 10 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.
$1.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 years.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow63.4
$12M
TornadoModerate77.1
$4M
Cold waveLow54.0
$1M
EarthquakeLow73.6
$1M
Strong windModerate70.2
$1M
HailModerate74.3
$786K
LightningModerate72.8
$636K
Heat waveLow56.6
$587K
Ice stormModerate78.6
$422K
HurricaneVery Low53.9
$127K
WildfireVery Low35.9
$23K
Winter weatherVery Low15.0
$14K
LandslideVery Low24.8
$220

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 low 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 Rockdale County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Hurricane4
Severe Storm3
Tornado2
Tropical Storm2
Drought1
Snowstorm1

Most recent

Oct 9, 2026Hurricane IsaiasEmergency
Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
Sep 26, 2024Hurricane HeleneEmergency
Sep 15, 2017Hurricane IrmaMajor disaster
Sep 8, 2017Hurricane IrmaEmergency
Feb 11, 2014Severe Winter StormEmergency
Sep 24, 2009Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 5, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jan 28, 2000Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Mar 11, 1998Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 15
Oct 10, 1995Hurricane OpalMajor disaster
Jul 7, 1994Tornadoes, Flooding Torrential Rain(Trop Storm Alberto)Major disaster
Mar 15, 1993Severe Snowfall, Winter StormEmergency
Jul 20, 1977DroughtEmergency
Apr 4, 1973Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1974

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 179 storm reports in Rockdale County since 1974, with 0 deaths and 2 injuries and about $15.3 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on October 1, 1989.

6tornadoes
36hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
108damaging thunderstorm winds
9floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Oct 1, 1989F2–0 / 0
Oct 1, 1989F2–0 / 0
Apr 2, 2024EF2Camp Smyrna0 / 0
May 10, 1981F1–0 / 0
Oct 1, 1989F1–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Mar 15, 2008HailConyers$5M
Sep 21, 2009FloodMcelroys Mill$2M
Jun 12, 2007HailConyers$2M
Mar 15, 2008HailMagnet$1M
Sep 21, 2009FloodMcelroys Mill$990K
Feb 21, 2005HailConyers$550K

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, 0 hurricanes and 12 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Rockdale County, 1 of them since 1950. The strongest was Tropical Storm Helene (2024), with top winds near 65 mph about 63 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
12tropical storms
2024most recent: Helene

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 27, 2024HeleneTropical storm, 65 mph63 mi
Oct 3, 1893UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph57 mi
Sep 23, 1889UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph59 mi
Oct 3, 1898UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph60 mi
Sep 10, 1882UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph59 mi
Jul 8, 1896UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph56 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 27, 2024HeleneTropical storm, 65 mph63 mi
Aug 12, 1940UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph61 mi
Sep 4, 1915UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph57 mi
Sep 15, 1903UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph61 mi
Oct 3, 1898UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph60 mi
Jul 8, 1896UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph56 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 Rockdale County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.3%of homes have federal flood insurance (93 policies)
52.9%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1.5 millionpaid on 70 flood claims since 1978
2009costliest year, with $891,279 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 Rockdale County

$292,900median home value (Georgia $303,300, US $332,700)
1990median year homes were built (Georgia 1992, US 1980)
28%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
3.8%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; 36,221 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
Gwinnett CountyHigh13
DeKalb CountyModerate16
Henry CountyLow15
Newton CountyLow19
Walton CountyLow12

Common questions about Rockdale County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Rockdale County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Rockdale County, about $11.7 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $3.9 million.

How many federal disasters has Rockdale County had?

Rockdale County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 7 major disasters. The most recent was Hurricane Isaias in October 2026.

Is Rockdale County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 46th 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 Rockdale County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 333 homes in Rockdale 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 Rockdale County had?

NOAA records list 6 tornadoes in Rockdale County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on October 1, 1989. The weather service has also logged 36 hail reports and 9 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Rockdale County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 12 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Rockdale County. The strongest was Tropical Storm Helene (2024), with winds near 65 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.