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Seminole County, Georgia

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

Very Low overall risk
89th of 159highest risk in Georgia
$9Mexpected losses a year
11federal declarations
1 in 45homes with flood insurance
Photo: CC0

Seminole County, Georgia has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 70% of US counties. It ranks 89th of 159 counties in Georgia. The costliest hazards here are hurricanes, inland flooding and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $8.9 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $976 per resident. Since 1977 it has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (5 major disasters). The most recent was in October 2026 (Hurricane Isaias). About 1 in 45 homes here carry federal flood insurance (110 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.7 million on 80 claims here, including $583,000 for floods in 2002.

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

Top risks in Seminole County

Hurricane

Moderate
$3.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 4 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.
$3.2 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.
$822,564 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 5 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
HurricaneModerate85.1
$4M
Inland floodingVery Low29.5
$3M
TornadoLow40.7
$823K
Cold waveLow41.3
$642K
DroughtLow58.2
$232K
LightningLow43.8
$173K
Strong windVery Low13.8
$104K
Heat waveVery Low23.7
$81K
HailVery Low14.5
$45K
EarthquakeVery Low25.2
$42K
WildfireVery Low36.0
$19K
Winter weatherVery Low5.2
$3K
Ice stormVery Low1.8
$669
LandslideVery Low2.5
$3

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 low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

Federal declarations for natural events that included Seminole County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Hurricane5
Severe Storm2
Tropical Storm2
Drought1
Tornado1

Most recent

Oct 9, 2026Hurricane IsaiasEmergency
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
Mar 11, 1998Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 7, 1994Tornadoes, Flooding Torrential Rain(Trop Storm Alberto)Major disaster
Show all 11
Jul 20, 1977DroughtEmergency

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

Storm history since 1969

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 116 storm reports in Seminole County since 1969, with 1 death and 11 injuries and about $11.4 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on March 22, 2005 near Donalsonville.

8tornadoes
6hail reports, largest 1.75 inches
88damaging thunderstorm winds
8floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Mar 22, 2005F2Donalsonville8 / 1
Feb 7, 1971F2–2 / 0
Apr 18, 1969F2–0 / 0
Jan 12, 1975F2–0 / 0
Jan 2, 2017EF1Riverturn0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Sep 15, 2002Flash FloodCountywide$7M
Mar 22, 2005TornadoDonalsonville$2M
Apr 5, 2011LightningDonalsonville$1M
Jan 2, 2017TornadoRiverturn$300K
Feb 7, 1971Tornado–$250K
Mar 20, 2003Thunderstorm WindReynoldsville$200K

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, 19 hurricanes and 40 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Seminole County, 21 of them since 1950. The strongest was Hurricane Michael (2018), with top winds near 160 mph about 65 miles away.

19hurricanes
3major hurricanes (Category 3+)
40tropical storms
2022most recent: Nicole

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 10, 2018MichaelCategory 5, 160 mph65 mi
Oct 9, 1894UnnamedCategory 3, 120 mph63 mi
Aug 23, 1851UnnamedCategory 3, 110 mph58 mi
Oct 3, 1877UnnamedCategory 2, 105 mph65 mi
Aug 31, 1856UnnamedCategory 2, 100 mph65 mi
Oct 9, 1852UnnamedCategory 2, 95 mph65 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Nov 11, 2022NicoleTropical storm, 40 mph64 mi
Sep 9, 2021MindyTropical storm, 50 mph62 mi
Aug 16, 2021FredTropical storm, 60 mph63 mi
Oct 10, 2018MichaelCategory 5, 160 mph65 mi
Sep 11, 2017IrmaTropical storm, 45 mph63 mi
Aug 23, 2008FayTropical storm, 45 mph65 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 Seminole County

Check your address flood zone ›
2.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (110 policies)
9.8%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1.7 millionpaid on 80 flood claims since 1978
2002costliest year, with $583,313 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 Seminole County

$121,900median home value (Georgia $303,300, US $332,700)
1981median year homes were built (Georgia 1992, US 1980)
49%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
30.1%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; 5,081 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 County, ALModerate26
Jackson County, FLLow34
Gadsden County, FLLow39
Decatur CountyLow18
Early CountyLow14
Miller CountyVery Low13

Common questions about Seminole County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Seminole County?

Hurricane has the highest expected yearly losses in Seminole County, about $3.5 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $3.2 million.

How many federal disasters has Seminole County had?

Seminole County has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1977, including 5 major disasters. The most recent was Hurricane Isaias in October 2026.

Is Seminole County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 89th 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 Seminole County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 45 homes in Seminole 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 Seminole County had?

NOAA records list 8 tornadoes in Seminole County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on March 22, 2005 near Donalsonville. The weather service has also logged 6 hail reports and 8 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Seminole County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 19 hurricanes and 40 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Seminole County, including 3 major hurricanes (Category 3 or stronger). The strongest was Hurricane Michael (2018), with winds near 160 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.