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Talbot County, Georgia

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

Very Low overall risk
152nd of 159highest risk in Georgia
$1Mexpected losses a year
15federal declarations
1 in 1000homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Talbot County, Georgia has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 97% of US counties. It ranks 152nd of 159 counties in Georgia. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and lightning. FEMA estimates about $1.4 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $241 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). Only 5 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 Talbot County

$736,715 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 4 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.
$229,595 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 4 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.
$96,151 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 64 times a year.
  • Go indoors when you hear thunder.
  • Use surge protectors for electronics.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low9.8
$737K
TornadoLow26.7
$230K
LightningLow41.5
$96K
Heat waveVery Low28.2
$68K
HurricaneVery Low53.6
$61K
Strong windVery Low11.7
$50K
DroughtLow41.7
$44K
HailVery Low18.8
$37K
EarthquakeVery Low27.3
$32K
WildfireVery Low40.5
$15K
Ice stormVery Low13.1
$4K
Cold waveVery Low4.2
$4K
Winter weatherVery Low2.3
$713
LandslideVery Low35.1
$259

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 Talbot County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Hurricane6
Severe Storm3
Tornado2
Tropical Storm2
Drought1
Winter Storm1

Most recent

Oct 9, 2026Hurricane IsaiasEmergency
Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
Sep 26, 2024Hurricane HeleneEmergency
Oct 10, 2018Hurricane MichaelEmergency
Sep 15, 2017Hurricane IrmaMajor disaster
Sep 8, 2017Hurricane IrmaEmergency
Feb 26, 2016Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 5, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Sep 24, 2004Tropical Storm FrancesMajor 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
Dec 1, 1992High Winds, Heavy Rains & TornadoesMajor 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 138 storm reports in Talbot County since 1954, with 1 death and 7 injuries and about $2.2 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF3 tornado on March 3, 2019 near Baughville.

21tornadoes
21hail reports, largest 1.75 inches
84damaging thunderstorm winds
12floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Mar 3, 2019EF3Baughville0 / 0
Apr 27, 2017EF2Box Spgs0 / 0
Jan 21, 2017EF2Pleasant Hill0 / 0
Nov 22, 1992F1–0 / 0
Mar 1, 2007EF1Talbotton0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Mar 3, 2019TornadoBaughville$750K
Apr 27, 2017TornadoBox Spgs$300K
Nov 22, 1992Tornado–$250K
Jan 21, 2017TornadoPleasant Hill$100K
Mar 1, 2007TornadoTalbotton$50K
Apr 3, 2017TornadoYpsilanti$50K

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, 1 hurricane and 21 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Talbot County, 5 of them since 1950. The strongest was Hurricane Michael (2018), with top winds near 80 mph about 60 miles away.

1hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
21tropical storms
2021most recent: Fred

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 11, 2018MichaelCategory 1, 80 mph60 mi
Sep 10, 1882UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph65 mi
Oct 3, 1898UnnamedTropical storm, 65 mph58 mi
Jul 8, 1896UnnamedTropical storm, 65 mph63 mi
Oct 3, 1893UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph56 mi
Aug 28, 1881UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph60 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 17, 2021FredTropical storm, 35 mph64 mi
Oct 11, 2018MichaelCategory 1, 80 mph60 mi
Sep 11, 2017IrmaTropical storm, 40 mph56 mi
Jun 15, 1965UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph46 mi
Oct 19, 1950KingTropical storm, 35 mph62 mi
Aug 12, 1940UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph60 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 Talbot County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (5 policies)
8.8%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$104,131paid on 6 flood claims since 1978
1994costliest year, with $59,457 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 Talbot County

$117,100median home value (Georgia $303,300, US $332,700)
1986median year homes were built (Georgia 1992, US 1980)
40%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
32.9%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; 3,058 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
Muscogee CountyModerate12
Harris CountyVery Low13
Upson CountyVery Low21
Meriwether CountyVery Low16
Chattahoochee CountyVery Low10
Taylor CountyVery Low14
Marion CountyVery Low12

Common questions about Talbot County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Talbot County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Talbot County, about $736,715 a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $229,595.

How many federal disasters has Talbot County had?

Talbot 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 Talbot County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 152nd 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 Talbot County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 1000 homes in Talbot 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 Talbot County had?

NOAA records list 21 tornadoes in Talbot County since 1950. The strongest was an EF3 tornado on March 3, 2019 near Baughville. The weather service has also logged 21 hail reports and 12 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Talbot County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 1 hurricane and 21 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Talbot County. The strongest was Hurricane Michael (2018), with winds near 80 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.