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Tattnall County, Georgia

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

Relatively Low overall risk
28th of 159highest risk in Georgia
$20Mexpected losses a year
21federal declarations
1 in 250homes with flood insurance
Photo: CC0

Tattnall County, Georgia has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 68% of US counties. It ranks 28th of 159 counties in Georgia. The costliest hazards here are hurricanes, inland flooding and drought. FEMA estimates about $20 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $880 per resident. Since 1966 it has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (11 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). Only 38 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $399,000 on 26 claims here.

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

Top risks in Tattnall County

$12.1 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.

Drought

Moderate
$1.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 23 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
HurricaneHigh94.0
$12M
Inland floodingLow37.8
$3M
DroughtModerate89.4
$1M
TornadoLow52.3
$986K
EarthquakeLow71.2
$631K
LightningModerate80.3
$535K
Heat waveLow63.3
$492K
Cold waveLow38.8
$463K
Strong windLow25.8
$180K
HailLow35.9
$110K
WildfireVery Low63.1
$76K
Ice stormVery Low25.8
$18K
Winter weatherVery Low14.6
$9K
LandslideVery Low11.2
$25

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 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 Tattnall County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Hurricane10
Tropical Storm3
Tornado2
Severe Storm2
Flood1
Drought1

Most recent

Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
Sep 30, 2024Hurricane HeleneMajor disaster
Sep 26, 2024Hurricane HeleneEmergency
Sep 24, 2024Tropical Storm DebbyMajor disaster
Aug 5, 2024Hurricane DebbyEmergency
Sep 7, 2023Hurricane IdaliaMajor disaster
Oct 14, 2018Hurricane MichaelMajor disaster
Oct 10, 2018Hurricane MichaelEmergency
Sep 15, 2017Hurricane IrmaMajor disaster
Sep 8, 2017Hurricane IrmaEmergency
Show all 21
Jan 26, 2017Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 8, 2016Hurricane MatthewMajor disaster
Oct 6, 2016Hurricane MatthewEmergency
Apr 23, 2009Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Sep 5, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Sep 24, 2004Tropical Storm FrancesMajor disaster
Mar 11, 1998Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 15, 1993Severe Snowfall, Winter StormEmergency
May 11, 1984Severe Storms & TornadoesEmergency
Jul 20, 1977DroughtEmergency
Mar 14, 1966FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1957

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 305 storm reports in Tattnall County since 1957, with 3 deaths and 18 injuries and about $5.3 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF3 tornado on May 11, 2008 near Cobbtown.

13tornadoes
68hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
198damaging thunderstorm winds
21floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 11, 2008EF3Cobbtown2 / 0
May 12, 1974F2–7 / 2
Apr 23, 1971F2–3 / 0
Jan 15, 1971F2–0 / 0
Jan 15, 1971F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 12, 1974Tornado–$3M
May 11, 2008TornadoCobbtown$1M
Feb 28, 2009LightningReidsville$500K
May 3, 1984Tornado–$250K
Mar 3, 1991Tornado–$250K
Jun 28, 1998LightningGlennville$250K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 20, 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, 12 hurricanes and 51 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Tattnall County, 18 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1893, with top winds near 115 mph about 61 miles away.

12hurricanes
2major hurricanes (Category 3+)
51tropical storms
2024most recent: Debby

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 28, 1893UnnamedCategory 3, 115 mph61 mi
Sep 8, 1854UnnamedCategory 3, 115 mph64 mi
Oct 15, 1947UnnamedCategory 2, 105 mph64 mi
Sep 29, 1896UnnamedCategory 2, 105 mph52 mi
Aug 28, 1881UnnamedCategory 2, 105 mph63 mi
Oct 2, 1898UnnamedCategory 2, 100 mph56 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 6, 2024DebbyTropical storm, 50 mph63 mi
Aug 30, 2023IdaliaTropical storm, 70 mph46 mi
Jul 7, 2021ElsaTropical storm, 50 mph53 mi
Sep 14, 2016JuliaTropical storm, 45 mph61 mi
Sep 2, 2016HermineTropical storm, 60 mph62 mi
Jun 7, 2013AndreaTropical storm, 45 mph56 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 Tattnall County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.4%of homes have federal flood insurance (38 policies)
13.6%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$398,974paid on 26 flood claims since 1978
2024costliest year, with $165,152 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 Tattnall County

$140,000median home value (Georgia $303,300, US $332,700)
1987median year homes were built (Georgia 1992, US 1980)
39%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
35%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; 9,405 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
Liberty CountyModerate16
Wayne CountyLow17
Toombs CountyVery Low21
Emanuel CountyVery Low20
Appling CountyLow18
Long CountyVery Low16
Candler CountyVery Low20
Evans CountyVery Low15

Common questions about Tattnall County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Tattnall County?

Hurricane has the highest expected yearly losses in Tattnall County, about $12.1 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $3.2 million.

How many federal disasters has Tattnall County had?

Tattnall County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1966, including 11 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is Tattnall County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 28th 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 Tattnall County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 250 homes in Tattnall 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 Tattnall County had?

NOAA records list 13 tornadoes in Tattnall County since 1950. The strongest was an EF3 tornado on May 11, 2008 near Cobbtown. The weather service has also logged 68 hail reports and 21 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Tattnall County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 12 hurricanes and 51 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Tattnall County, including 2 major hurricanes (Category 3 or stronger). The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1893, with winds near 115 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.