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Spalding County, Georgia

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

Very Low overall risk
73rd of 159highest risk in Georgia
$14Mexpected losses a year
17federal declarations
1 in 333homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Spalding County, Georgia has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 59% of US counties. It ranks 73rd of 159 counties in Georgia. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $14 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $204 per resident. Since 1977 it has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (10 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 $153,000 on 24 claims here.

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

Top risks in Spalding County

$8 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.
$2.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 8 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.

Strong wind

Moderate
$966,730 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow54.1
$8M
TornadoLow62.2
$2M
Strong windModerate67.4
$967K
EarthquakeLow67.2
$734K
HailLow66.9
$523K
Heat waveLow55.3
$515K
LightningModerate62.7
$396K
HurricaneVery Low56.3
$147K
DroughtLow48.6
$141K
Cold waveVery Low13.0
$131K
Ice stormLow54.4
$110K
WildfireVery Low37.9
$24K
Winter weatherVery Low10.7
$9K
LandslideVery Low13.7
$56

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 moderate in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Hurricane5
Severe Storm4
Tornado2
Severe Ice Storm2
Tropical Storm2
Drought1

Most recent

Oct 9, 2026Hurricane IsaiasEmergency
Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
Sep 26, 2024Hurricane HeleneEmergency
Jan 16, 2023Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Sep 15, 2017Hurricane IrmaMajor disaster
Sep 8, 2017Hurricane IrmaEmergency
Mar 6, 2014Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Feb 11, 2014Severe Winter StormEmergency
Apr 29, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Associated FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 5, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Show all 17
Sep 24, 2004Tropical Storm FrancesMajor disaster
Jan 28, 2000Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Mar 11, 1998Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 10, 1995Hurricane OpalMajor disaster
Jul 7, 1994Tornadoes, Flooding Torrential Rain(Trop Storm Alberto)Major disaster
Dec 1, 1992High Winds, Heavy Rains & TornadoesMajor disaster
Jul 20, 1977DroughtEmergency

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

Storm history since 1955

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 318 storm reports in Spalding County since 1955, with 4 deaths and 41 injuries and about $35.6 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF3 tornado on April 27, 2011 near Blantons Mill.

27tornadoes
55hail reports, largest 1.75 inches
208damaging thunderstorm winds
13floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 27, 2011EF3Blantons Mill0 / 2
Jan 12, 2023EF3Blantons Mill18 / 0
Jan 12, 2023EF2Rio10 / 2
Nov 22, 1992F2–3 / 0
Feb 18, 2009EF2Blantons Mill0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 27, 2011TornadoBlantons Mill$25M
Apr 13, 1980Tornado–$3M
Nov 22, 1992Tornado–$3M
Mar 26, 2011HailDigbey$888K
Feb 18, 2009TornadoBlantons Mill$825K
Mar 28, 2009HailGriffin$600K

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 13 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Spalding County, 1 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1898, with top winds near 60 mph about 63 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
13tropical storms
1965most recent: unnamed storm

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 3, 1898UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph63 mi
Sep 10, 1882UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph59 mi
Oct 3, 1893UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph63 mi
Sep 23, 1889UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph49 mi
Jul 8, 1896UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph60 mi
Sep 1, 1898UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph58 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Jun 15, 1965UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph56 mi
Aug 12, 1940UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph65 mi
Sep 4, 1915UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph52 mi
Sep 15, 1903UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph61 mi
Oct 3, 1898UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph63 mi
Sep 1, 1898UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph58 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 Spalding County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.3%of homes have federal flood insurance (93 policies)
18.8%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$153,491paid on 24 flood claims since 1978
2019costliest year, with $66,919 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 Spalding County

$228,700median home value (Georgia $303,300, US $332,700)
1985median year homes were built (Georgia 1992, US 1980)
42%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
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; 28,714 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
Clayton CountyModerate14
Henry CountyLow15
Coweta CountyLow14
Fayette CountyLow13
Butts CountyVery Low17
Meriwether CountyVery Low16
Pike CountyVery Low20
Lamar CountyVery Low17

Common questions about Spalding County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Spalding County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Spalding County, about $8 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $2.1 million.

How many federal disasters has Spalding County had?

Spalding County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1977, including 10 major disasters. The most recent was Hurricane Isaias in October 2026.

Is Spalding County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 73rd 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 Spalding County?

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

NOAA records list 27 tornadoes in Spalding County since 1950. The strongest was an EF3 tornado on April 27, 2011 near Blantons Mill. The weather service has also logged 55 hail reports and 13 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Spalding County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 13 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Spalding County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1898, with winds near 60 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.