Upson County, Georgia
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Upson County, Georgia has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 83% of US counties. It ranks 117th of 159 counties in Georgia. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and heat waves. FEMA estimates about $6.1 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $220 per resident. Since 1977 it has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (12 major disasters). The most recent was in October 2026 (Hurricane Isaias). Only 18 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $343,000 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 Upson County
- 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.
- Check that cooling works before summer.
- Know where the nearest cooling center is.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 31.7 | $3M | ||
| Tornado | 39.0 | $756K | ||
| Heat wave | 50.8 | $358K | ||
| Strong wind | 33.3 | $306K | ||
| Hurricane | 64.2 | $299K | ||
| Earthquake | 50.7 | $265K | ||
| Lightning | 52.6 | $238K | ||
| Hail | 45.2 | $202K | ||
| Drought | 51.6 | $148K | ||
| Cold wave | 8.0 | $50K | ||
| Wildfire | 41.6 | $27K | ||
| Ice storm | 22.8 | $19K | ||
| Winter weather | 5.8 | $4K | ||
| Landslide | 32.3 | $344 |
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 Upson County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 21
Georgia also had 8 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1956
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 270 storm reports in Upson County since 1956, with 0 deaths and 10 injuries and about $5.6 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF3 tornado on April 13, 2020 near Lincoln Park.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 13, 2020 | EF3 | Lincoln Park | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 27, 2011 | EF2 | Hendricks | 0 / 0 |
| Jan 21, 2017 | EF2 | Ellerbeetown | 0 / 0 |
| Jan 11, 1963 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Feb 10, 1990 | F1 | – | 2 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 10, 2005 | Flash Flood | Countywide | $700K |
| Apr 27, 2011 | Tornado | Hendricks | $500K |
| Apr 13, 2020 | Tornado | Lincoln Park | $300K |
| Feb 10, 1990 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Mar 29, 1991 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| May 2, 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | Thomaston | $250K |
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 17 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Upson County, 3 of them since 1950. The strongest was Hurricane Michael (2018), with top winds near 75 mph about 57 miles away.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 11, 2018 | Michael | Category 1, 75 mph | 57 mi |
| Oct 3, 1898 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 65 mph | 55 mi |
| Sep 10, 1882 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 51 mi |
| Jul 8, 1896 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 55 mi |
| Aug 28, 1881 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 64 mi |
| Oct 3, 1893 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 55 mph | 55 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 11, 2018 | Michael | Category 1, 75 mph | 57 mi |
| Sep 12, 2017 | Irma | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 59 mi |
| Jun 15, 1965 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 61 mi |
| Aug 12, 1940 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 61 mi |
| Jul 29, 1926 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 62 mi |
| Sep 4, 1915 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 64 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 Upson 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 Upson 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; 12,434 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Monroe County | 19 | |
| Meriwether County | 16 | |
| Pike County | 20 | |
| Lamar County | 17 | |
| Crawford County | 18 | |
| Taylor County | 14 | |
| Talbot County | 15 |
Common questions about Upson County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Upson County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Upson County, about $3.4 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $756,312.
How many federal disasters has Upson County had?
Upson County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1977, including 12 major disasters. The most recent was Hurricane Isaias in October 2026.
Is Upson County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 117th 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 Upson County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 1000 homes in Upson 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 Upson County had?
NOAA records list 21 tornadoes in Upson County since 1950. The strongest was an EF3 tornado on April 13, 2020 near Lincoln Park. The weather service has also logged 60 hail reports and 28 floods here.
How many hurricanes have hit Upson County?
NOAA's hurricane records show 1 hurricane and 17 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Upson County. The strongest was Hurricane Michael (2018), with winds near 75 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.