Seminole County, Georgia
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
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
- 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.
- 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.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hurricane | 85.1 | $4M | ||
| Inland flooding | 29.5 | $3M | ||
| Tornado | 40.7 | $823K | ||
| Cold wave | 41.3 | $642K | ||
| Drought | 58.2 | $232K | ||
| Lightning | 43.8 | $173K | ||
| Strong wind | 13.8 | $104K | ||
| Heat wave | 23.7 | $81K | ||
| Hail | 14.5 | $45K | ||
| Earthquake | 25.2 | $42K | ||
| Wildfire | 36.0 | $19K | ||
| Winter weather | 5.2 | $3K | ||
| Ice storm | 1.8 | $669 | ||
| Landslide | 2.5 | $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
Most recent
Show all 11
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.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 22, 2005 | F2 | Donalsonville | 8 / 1 |
| Feb 7, 1971 | F2 | – | 2 / 0 |
| Apr 18, 1969 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jan 12, 1975 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jan 2, 2017 | EF1 | Riverturn | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 15, 2002 | Flash Flood | Countywide | $7M |
| Mar 22, 2005 | Tornado | Donalsonville | $2M |
| Apr 5, 2011 | Lightning | Donalsonville | $1M |
| Jan 2, 2017 | Tornado | Riverturn | $300K |
| Feb 7, 1971 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Mar 20, 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | Reynoldsville | $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.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 10, 2018 | Michael | Category 5, 160 mph | 65 mi |
| Oct 9, 1894 | Unnamed | Category 3, 120 mph | 63 mi |
| Aug 23, 1851 | Unnamed | Category 3, 110 mph | 58 mi |
| Oct 3, 1877 | Unnamed | Category 2, 105 mph | 65 mi |
| Aug 31, 1856 | Unnamed | Category 2, 100 mph | 65 mi |
| Oct 9, 1852 | Unnamed | Category 2, 95 mph | 65 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 11, 2022 | Nicole | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 64 mi |
| Sep 9, 2021 | Mindy | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 62 mi |
| Aug 16, 2021 | Fred | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 63 mi |
| Oct 10, 2018 | Michael | Category 5, 160 mph | 65 mi |
| Sep 11, 2017 | Irma | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 63 mi |
| Aug 23, 2008 | Fay | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 65 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 ›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
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 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Houston County, AL | 26 | |
| Jackson County, FL | 34 | |
| Gadsden County, FL | 39 | |
| Decatur County | 18 | |
| Early County | 14 | |
| Miller County | 13 |
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.