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Stewart County, Georgia

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

Very Low overall risk
147th of 159highest risk in Georgia
$2Mexpected losses a year
15federal declarations
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Stewart County, Georgia has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 94% of US counties. It ranks 147th of 159 counties in Georgia. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and lightning. FEMA estimates about $1.8 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $335 per resident. Since 1977 it has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (8 major disasters). The most recent was in October 2026 (Hurricane Isaias). No homes here carry federal flood insurance.

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

Top risks in Stewart County

$624,623 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 9 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.
$558,390 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 3 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.
$154,023 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 68 times a year.
  • Go indoors when you hear thunder.
  • Use surge protectors for electronics.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low8.5
$625K
TornadoLow44.4
$558K
LightningLow55.5
$154K
DroughtLow56.2
$119K
HurricaneLow60.5
$119K
Heat waveVery Low31.6
$80K
EarthquakeVery Low31.5
$48K
Strong windVery Low7.9
$31K
HailVery Low10.5
$18K
WildfireVery Low43.9
$18K
Cold waveVery Low4.5
$5K
Ice stormVery Low8.1
$2K
LandslideVery Low44.9
$514
Winter weatherVery Low1.9
$490

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 very low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Hurricane6
Severe Storm4
Tropical Storm2
Drought1
Tornado1
Winter Storm1

Most recent

Oct 9, 2026Hurricane IsaiasEmergency
Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
Sep 26, 2024Hurricane HeleneEmergency
Oct 14, 2018Hurricane MichaelMajor disaster
Oct 10, 2018Hurricane MichaelEmergency
Sep 15, 2017Hurricane IrmaMajor disaster
Sep 8, 2017Hurricane IrmaEmergency
Feb 26, 2016Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 3, 2007Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
Sep 5, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Show all 15
Mar 11, 1998Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 10, 1995Hurricane OpalMajor 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 1954

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 107 storm reports in Stewart County since 1954, with 1 death and 20 injuries and about $1.8 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on December 5, 1954.

16tornadoes
21hail reports, largest 1.75 inches
68damaging thunderstorm winds
2floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Dec 5, 1954F2–20 / 1
Mar 3, 2019EF2Sanford0 / 0
Dec 5, 1954F2–0 / 0
Apr 5, 2017EF2Tilley0 / 0
Apr 9, 1961F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Mar 1, 2007TornadoRichland$400K
Mar 3, 2019TornadoSanford$400K
Dec 5, 1954Tornado–$250K
Dec 5, 1954Tornado–$250K
Apr 3, 2017TornadoJulia$100K
Jan 2, 2017TornadoBarges$60K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Mar 12, 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, 6 hurricanes and 28 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Stewart County, 9 of them since 1950. The strongest was Hurricane Michael (2018), with top winds near 100 mph about 56 miles away.

6hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
28tropical storms
2021most recent: Fred

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 10, 2018MichaelCategory 2, 100 mph56 mi
Sep 23, 1975EloiseCategory 1, 90 mph62 mi
Aug 24, 1851UnnamedCategory 1, 90 mph58 mi
Sep 10, 1882UnnamedCategory 1, 80 mph60 mi
Aug 31, 1856UnnamedCategory 1, 80 mph57 mi
Jul 7, 1896UnnamedCategory 1, 75 mph59 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 17, 2021FredTropical storm, 45 mph61 mi
Oct 10, 2018MichaelCategory 2, 100 mph56 mi
Sep 11, 2017IrmaTropical storm, 45 mph56 mi
Sep 7, 2004FrancesTropical storm, 40 mph63 mi
Sep 23, 1975EloiseCategory 1, 90 mph62 mi
Jun 15, 1965UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph50 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 Stewart County

Check your address flood zone ›
0%of homes have federal flood insurance (0 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$0paid on 0 flood claims since 1978
n/acostliest year

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 Stewart County

$65,100median home value (Georgia $303,300, US $332,700)
1987median year homes were built (Georgia 1992, US 1980)
40%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
31.1%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; 2,105 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
Russell County, ALLow22
Barbour County, ALLow26
Chattahoochee CountyVery Low10
Marion CountyVery Low12
Randolph CountyVery Low11
Webster CountyVery Low15
Quitman CountyVery Low10

Common questions about Stewart County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Stewart County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Stewart County, about $624,623 a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $558,390.

How many federal disasters has Stewart County had?

Stewart County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1977, including 8 major disasters. The most recent was Hurricane Isaias in October 2026.

Is Stewart County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 147th 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 Stewart County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.

How many tornadoes has Stewart County had?

NOAA records list 16 tornadoes in Stewart County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on December 5, 1954. The weather service has also logged 21 hail reports and 2 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Stewart County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 6 hurricanes and 28 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Stewart County. The strongest was Hurricane Michael (2018), with winds near 100 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.